Silver Outshines Gold as Industrial Demand Tightens Supply
Silver prices have doubled year-to-date, outpacing gold's 60% surge, as investors pivot from fiat to hard assets. The metal's unique conductivity makes it indispensable for EVs, solar panels, and electronics—but dwindling inventories signal a supply crisis. Mexico, Peru, and China, the top producers, face operational hurdles, leaving no central bank backstop for shortages.
Jewelry demand remains robust in Asia, where silver functions as intergenerational wealth. Meanwhile, thin-margin industries grapple with cost pressures as the market strains under speculative ETF flows and mining bottlenecks. Unlike gold, silver lacks systemic liquidity buffers, amplifying volatility risks.