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This table presents detailed data on the quantities and values of gold-bearing materials imported into the United States, categorized by country or locality and by material type, including waste and scrap, metal powder, and gold compounds. This information is critical for understanding the sources and scale of gold supply entering the U.S. market, which has significant implications for the domestic gold refining industry, manufacturing sectors that utilize gold, and the broader economy. Tracking these imports helps policymakers and industry stakeholders monitor trade patterns, assess supply chain dependencies, and make informed decisions related to resource management and economic strategy.
Analysis of the 2023 data reveals that waste and scrap remain the dominant category, with a total import quantity of 15,300 kilograms valued at $404 million, consistent with the previous year’s quantity but showing a slight increase in value from $386 million in 2022. Mexico stands out as the largest supplier of waste and scrap, contributing 3,720 kilograms valued at $111 million, followed by Canada with 2,860 kilograms worth $81.6 million, and Ecuador with 1,180 kilograms valued at $45.5 million. Metal powder imports totaled 203 kilograms valued at $6.43 million, with Germany being the primary source at 93 kilograms worth $3.48 million. Gold compounds imports were relatively small, totaling 1,180 kilograms valued at $1.08 million, with the United Kingdom supplying the majority at 875 kilograms valued at $251,000. The data indicates a stable import volume for waste and scrap but highlights the importance of a diverse range of countries supplying different forms of gold-bearing materials to the U.S. market.
| TABLE 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. IMPORTS OF GOLD-BEARING MATERIALS, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Kilograms, gross weight, and thousand dollars) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Waste and scrap | Metal powder | Gold compounds | ||||||||||||||||
| Year and country or locality | Quantity | Value | Quantity | Value | Quantity | Value | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 15300 | 386000 | 249 | 9270 | 5140 | 2580 | ||||||||||||
| 2023: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Aruba | 27 | 827 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Bahamas | 27 | 864 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Barbados | 5 | 145 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Bolivia | 97 | 3690 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Brazil | 93 | 3660 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Canada | 2860 | 81600 | 1 | 38 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Chile | 159 | 6360 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Costa Rica | 1600 | 13100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Curacao | 60 | 2190 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Dominica | 13 | 443 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Dominican Republic | 378 | 12100 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Ecuador | 1180 | 45500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| El Salvador | 44 | 1060 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| French Polynesia | 10 | 345 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Germany | 855 | 3100 | 93 | 3480 | 253 | 698 | ||||||||||||
| Grenada | 14 | 394 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Guatemala | 115 | 3010 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Honduras | 804 | 38200 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Ireland | 15 | 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Italy | 6 | 124 | 6 | 59 | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Jamaica | 153 | 3850 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Japan | -- | -- | 41 | 690 | 3 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| Malaysia | 1040 | 1810 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Mexico | 3720 | 111000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Morocco | 28 | 648 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Nicaragua | 38 | 1130 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Panama | 1170 | 41300 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Spain | 43 | 953 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| St Lucia | 20 | 542 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | 29 | 813 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Switzerland | 2 | 67 | 60 | 2120 | 24 | 110 | ||||||||||||
| Taiwan | 56 | 2810 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Thailand | 8 | 166 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Trinidad and Tobago | 98 | 2130 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Turkey | 7 | 158 | -- | -- | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 6 | 152 | 2 | 47 | 875 | 251 | ||||||||||||
| Uruguay | 31 | 1160 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 415 | 17500 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| Other | 31 | 807 | -- | -- | 16 | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 15300 | 404000 | 203 | 6430 | 1180 | 1080 | ||||||||||||
-- Zero.
1Table includes data available through August 6, 2024. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Gold statistics | Mineral commodity prices