The maximum gold production for the year 2007 came out of China, which overtook the previous lead gold producer, South Africa. South Africa has been accounted as the largest gold producer since 1905, according to a mine industry body.%% South Africa has been facing a decline in gold production since the last 10 years, by an average of 6.3%. In 2007 itself the production dipped by 7.4% to 254,685 kg. The decrease was attributed to lower ore grades and safety-related work stoppages, according to South Africa's Chamber of Mines. Also, a 37% increase in capital expenditure to R8.1 billion increased the tonnes of material processed through the mills by 5.8%, but the 11.8% decrease in the average grade mined to 4.12 grams per ton resulted in overall production decline. China's gold output rose by 12.7% to 270.5 tonnes in 2007.

The maximum gold production for the year 2007 came out of China, which overtook the previous lead gold producer, South Africa. South Africa has been accounted as the largest gold producer since 1905, according to a mine industry body.%% South Africa has been facing a decline in gold production since the last 10 years, by an average of 6.3%. In 2007 itself the production dipped by 7.4% to 254,685 kg. The decrease was attributed to lower ore grades and safety-related work stoppages, according to South Africa's Chamber of Mines. Also, a 37% increase in capital expenditure to R8.1 billion increased the tonnes of material processed through the mills by 5.8%, but the 11.8% decrease in the average grade mined to 4.12 grams per ton resulted in overall production decline. China's gold output rose by 12.7% to 270.5 tonnes in 2007.