Amber mining in Russia up 13% in 2025 to 726 tonnes, two deposits with output of 183 tonnes to be brought into operation in 2027

MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Amber mining in Russia increased 13% to 726 tonnes in 2025, and two deposits with mining output of 183 tonnes will be brought into operation in 2027, according to a statement published on the website of the Natural Resources Ministry.

Around 90% of the world's amber reserves are concentrated in Russia, the ministry said. All five deposits with total reserves of 112,400 tonnes are located in the Kaliningrad region. Currently, there are four licenses for the use of subsoil for geological study, exploration and mining of amber, three of which are mining licenses.

"Mining is only being carried out at the Primorskoye deposit in the Kaliningrad region so far. [Mining] levels are growing: if almost 530 tonnes were mined in 2023, then over 640 tonnes [were produced] in 2024 and more than 726 tonnes in 2025. The Vishnevoye and Melnikovo deposits are being prepared for development, and their commissioning is expected in 2027. In total, it is planned that 183 tonnes of amber will be mined annually at these facilities," the ministry said.

At the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027, it is planned that an auction for a site of federal significance will be announced, including the Central, Southern and Northern sites in the Baltic Sea water area.

"The country has prospects for discovering new amber deposits. Forecast resources of categories P1 and P2 amount to 66,100 tonnes, and category P3 [amount to] 118,600 tonnes. They are mainly localized in the Kaliningrad region," the statement quoted Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov as saying.

"Baltic amber, mined in the Kaliningrad region, is traditionally considered one of the most expensive and demand for it is growing. According to the Kaliningrad Amber Combine, the number of companies that purchase stone at auctions increased 24% in 2025 alone. Stones weighing more than one kilogram that meet a number of parameters are classified as precious under Russian law. At the same time, nuggets weighing 2 kg or more are periodically found in the Baltic. One of the most recent, the Record Holder stone weighing 2.37 kg, was mined in 2025," the ministry said.

"In around 10% of stones there are preserved plants, insects and even small lizards. They once stuck to the resin and were covered with new layers, and in this form were preserved for millions of years. These are so-called inclusions. Such stones are of great value not only for collectors, but also for scientists. For example, a stone was found in the Baltic that preserved a dragonfly around 50 million years old. Just last year, in Kuzbass in Cretaceous layers, amber that was around 100 million years old was found, inside of which there are the spores and pollen of ancient plants," the statement said.