Nicaragua’s Gold Exports to Miami by Chinese Firm
Chinese mining company Shin Shin Linze Mineria Group reportedly exported $25.6 million worth of Nicaraguan gold to Miami between January and August. This information comes from officials and is highlighted by a Nicaraguan newspaper.
The publication, operating from exile, alleges that Shin Shin Linze Mineria Group is among those benefitting from deals with President Daniel Ortega’s administration, particularly with Energy and Mining Minister Salvador Mansell, as part of efforts to transfer Nicaragua’s resources to Communist China.
According to statistics from ImportGenius, Chinese companies sent raw gold to the U.S. on 11 occasions this year, totaling the aforementioned $25.6 million. These shipments reportedly began in late January and picked up pace from April onward.
The report indicated that these transactions were processed through Nicaragua’s Central Air Cargo Customs under a specific classification code indicating gold. Nicaragua’s representative in the matter is reportedly Dong Lijun, a general administrative representative with minimal visibility in the business realm.
The Shin Shin Linze Mineria Group has obtained 10 leases from Nicaragua’s Ministry of Mining, enabling exploration on 155,055 hectares of land. An anonymous expert mentioned that, given the right conditions, Chinese companies could profit by exporting gold to the U.S.
In a notable geopolitical turn, Ortega’s regime, which severed ties with Taiwan in December 2021, has forged closer relations with Communist China, adopting the One China Principle. Since then, there has been a surge in mining deals favoring Chinese interests, including an open-pit mining lease set to be finalized in August 2024.
Ortega’s government has also accepted loans from China and approved various contracts linked to the Belt and Road Initiative, which critics argue are designed to extend Chinese influence in Nicaragua.
Reports indicate that between 2023 and 2025, Ortega has signed 10 loan agreements with five Chinese companies, accumulating over $1.2 billion in debt. Detractors of Ortega’s leadership have voiced concerns about the negative fiscal impact of these loans and their implications for national sovereignty.
Recently, Nicaragua’s Ministry of Energy and Mines issued 11 new lease contracts to Chinese firms, raising the total area leased from 5% to 6.38% of Nicaragua’s territory in just one week. A report warned that although the government is facilitating Chinese gold mining, it has tightened export controls for other exporters.
The Ortega administration tightly regulates Nicaragua’s mining sector through the state-owned Eniminas, which appears to funnel profits to private partners and insiders. Some Nicaraguan mining entities with connections to the regime have also gained approvals in recent years.
Most international dealings related to China and Russia are reportedly managed by Laureano Ortega Murillo, who serves as a presidential advisor. During a recent business summit in China, he noted that Chinese firms could benefit from tax exemptions and favorable energy rates if they engage in business within Nicaragua.
Through this initiative, new companies established in Nicaragua would be free from taxes, incentivizing business activities by foreign investors, particularly from China.
