The Complete Gold Export Process from Mine to Buyer
African gold reaches international refineries through a regulated sequence requiring documentation at every stage. Material lacking proper verification cannot legally export—regardless of purity. Understanding this workflow helps buyers identify compliant supply chains and avoid shipments destined for rejection.
Step 1: Licensed Source Verification
Export begins exclusively with miners holding valid licenses from national authorities—Ghana’s Minerals Commission, South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources, or South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining. Exporters conduct on-site verification, recording GPS coordinates and confirming license validity before acquisition. Unlicensed material is excluded from formal trade channels.
Step 2: Chain of Custody Documentation
Each batch receives a unique reference number linked to the miner’s license and acquisition coordinates. Material is weighed, photographed, and sealed in tamper-evident containers with serialized seals. This documentation establishes the chain of custody required for subsequent export steps. Any break in this sequence invalidates legal export status.
Step 3: Accredited Assay Certification
Gold moves to nationally accredited laboratories for fire assay certification—PMMC-approved facilities in Ghana, SABS-registered labs in South Africa. The certificate details precise weight, fineness, and batch identifier. XRF readings alone are insufficient for export; refineries require accredited fire assay results.
Step 4: Government Export Permit
Exporters submit assay certificates to national authorities for permit issuance. Ghana requires PMMC approval; South Africa mandates SADPMR authorization with SARS customs endorsement; South Sudan enforces dual ministry sign-off. Officials physically inspect material against documentation before clearance.
Step 5: Secure Air Freight
Cleared shipments travel via commercial air freight on established corridors: Accra to New York, Johannesburg to Shanghai, Juba to Dubai. Gold moves in insured containers with detailed air waybills listing seal numbers and consignee information. Upon arrival, refineries inspect seal integrity and verify documentation before acceptance.
AFRICA GOLD’s End-to-End Management
Since 2015, AFRICA GOLD has managed this complete sequence across Ghana, South Africa, and South Sudan from its South African headquarters, with coordination support from the United Kingdom. Field teams conduct on-site verification, coordinate accredited assays, secure permits directly, and oversee airport handover—ensuring unbroken chain of custody for every consignment destined for buyers in the UAE, United States, China, and Europe.
Reliable gold supply depends on meticulous execution at each export stage. Partner with an exporter who controls the entire workflow—from licensed miner verification through international delivery.
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