Mali's 2017 artisanal gold exports down by more than half

BAMAKO: Declared exports of informally mined gold in Mali fell by more than half in 2017 to 7.89 tonnes, mostly due to tax increases, officials at the mines ministry said on Tuesday.

That is down from 20 tonnes in 2016.

Abdoulaye Pona, president of Mali's Chamber of Mines, said the fall was likely due to informal producers smuggling gold out of the country without declaring it.

Mali is Africa's third-largest gold producer behind South Africa and Ghana.