Australian gold production rose 2% last year to reach 303 tonnes in 2025, the second time it has hit that milestone since 2023, Melbourne-based Surbiton Associates says.
The 12-month total, valued at A$71 billion ($50.5 billion) was the highest in the last few years but below the 1999–2000 record of 328 tonnes. Output in the fourth quarter rose 1% quarter-over-quarter to 77 tonnes as gold prices touched historic levels, the resource analysis firm said in a release this week.
“The December quarter 2025 was one of the most memorable ever for gold, given the price rises seen in just a three-month period,” Surbiton director Sandra Close said. The gold price averaged $4,154 in the quarter and peaked at $4,549 in late December.
Third largest producer
The latest gold data from Down Under further cements the country’s status as the third-largest yellow metal producer in the world, according to World Gold Council data. China and Russia lead all other nations, producing 380 tonnes and 330 tonnes in 2024, respectively. Australia has ranked among the top three producers of gold for at least a decade.
As geopolitical events such as the ongoing war in the Middle East trigger increased commodity price swings, gold producers can benefit from price protections such as put options, Close said.
Those options give producers the right to sell gold at a defined price so that if the price falls, producers can sell the gold at the exercise price in the put option. If it rises above that price, the producer can allow the options to expire and sell the yellow metal at the higher price.
“On the local scene, the gold industry is showing no signs of slowing down,” Close said. “Exploration companies seeking further funds for drilling seem to have little trouble raising money and companies seeking much larger amounts for new treatment plants or expansions to existing facilities, are also well supported.”
Gold honour roll
Several mines in Australia produced more gold in the fourth quarter than in the third. Those include AngloGold Ashanti’s (JSE: ANG; NYSE: AU) and Regis Resources’ (ASX: RRL) Tropicana mine, which booked 28,600 more oz. in the quarter, Newmont’s (NYSE, ASX: NEM) Tanami, up 23,000 oz. and New Murchison Gold’s (ASX: NMG) Crown Prince that logged 19,100 more ounces.
The country’s top producer of by-product gold was BHP’s (ASX, LSE, NYSE: BHP) Olympic Dam in South Australia. Gold output rose by 11,000 oz. in the fourth quarter, for a total of 216,000 oz. for the full year.
Australia top five gold mines by output last year were Newmont’s Boddington, with 565,000 oz. produced; Northern Star Resources’ (ASX: NST) Super Pit, which produced 437,894 oz.; Tropicana, with 435,977 oz.; Tanami, with 391,000 oz. and Newmont’s Cadia mine with 385,000 ounces.
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