Introduction: why “dealer premiums” quietly drain returns
If you “buy gold” the traditional way, you often pay for layers you do not need: brokers, wholesalers, retail markups, and financing spreads. Each layer takes a slice. The result is higher premiums, slower delivery, and vague documentation. Congo Rare Minerals (CRM) removes those layers with a direct source-to-market supply chain that starts at our licensed operations in the DRC and ends at your chosen refinery or vault. The outcome is simple: lower all-in costs, full traceability, and predictable settlement.
Where premiums come from
Typical dealer stack:
- Sourcing agent fee
- Exporter margin
- Wholesaler margin
- Retail dealer markup
- Financing, hedging, and storage add-ons
Each step adds dollars over spot. None of those costs improve metal quality. They only increase your basis.
CRM difference:
- One counterparty from mine to market
- Contracted logistics routed via Uganda for compliant export
- Settlement on independent assay at an approved refinery
Fewer hands. Fewer fees. Better paperwork.
The CRM source-to-market model, step by step
1) Extraction and verification at the source
- Licensed DRC operations with batch-level traceability.
- On-site checks and pre-assay to define expected purity ranges.
2) Compliance and documentation
- Chain-of-custody records.
- Export documentation prepared for cross-border movement.
- Buyer KYC and contract pack finalized before shipment.
3) Secure logistics via Uganda
- Movement through Uganda for streamlined export processing.
- Insurance coverage during transit.
- Delivery to a mutually approved refinery in Dubai, Switzerland, China, Europe, or the USA.
4) Assay and settlement
- Independent refinery assay confirms purity and weight.
- Settlement per contract on LBMA-linked terms.
- Final documents delivered to the buyer.
Numbers that matter: how direct sourcing lowers your basis
Investors care about the all-in price versus LBMA spot. By cutting intermediaries, CRM targets lower premiums at scale.
Illustrative example
- 1 kg 24K bullion bar at a quoted USD 75,000
- Includes CRM’s source-to-market efficiencies
- Final settlement aligns to refinery assay and contracted LBMA-linked terms
- Pricing is indicative only and subject to live market conditions, quantity, and route
Why this matters: shaving even 1 to 2 percent off your premium on kilo bars compounds into real alpha for funds and high-net-worth buyers who purchase monthly or quarterly.
Quality without question
How CRM protects purity and provenance:
- Direct-from-the-mine origin with batch IDs and paperwork.
- Independent assays at delivery to confirm purity, typically 96% to 99.99% depending on product form.
- No substitute material risk that can arise when metal changes hands multiple times.
Highlighted advantages
- Source direct from the DRC
- Fully verified provenance
- Independent assay on arrival
- Contracts that pass institutional due diligence
The bigger picture: why DRC origin is a strategic edge
- Untapped potential: The DRC is widely cited for its USD 24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, with about 90% not yet exploited. Early and compliant access matters.
- Partnership momentum: The DRC seeks long-term partners, while UAE investment into African mining and trading corridors is rising.
- Geopolitical resilience: In a world of supply realignment, DRC gold is a strategic asset that diversifies away from crowded channels and over-intermediated routes.
Compliance and logistics buyers can trust
- Licensed operations and documented supply chains
- Export routed via Uganda to support efficient clearance
- Delivery to approved refineries with settlement on assay
- Insurance and security through transit
You get the metal, the documents, and the audit trail.
Who benefits most from CRM’s model
- Family offices and HNW buyers seeking kilo bars with clean paperwork and tight spreads
- Funds and treasuries that prioritize repeatable, LBMA-linked settlement and predictable logistics
- Bullion desks and market makers who need scalable volumes and verified source
Frequently asked points
Can CRM deliver to my preferred refinery or vault?
Yes. We deliver to mutually approved refineries and can coordinate vaulting per your mandate.
How are prices set?
Contracts reference LBMA spot with agreed differentials for product form, logistics, quantity, and route. Final settlement is based on independent refinery assay.
What product forms are available?
Bullion bars, dore, dust, and nuggets. Purity and documentation vary by product and contract.
Conclusion and next steps
Buying from layers of middlemen adds cost and risk without improving the metal. CRM’s source-to-market model gives you lower premiums, verified provenance, and settlement on assay. That is how serious investors “buy gold” today.
Stop paying for markups you do not need. Secure your allocation at the source.
Contact Congo Rare Minerals to discuss volumes, routes, and current pricing for wholesale 1 kg bars and larger allocations.