By Scott Wright
Forexpros
In order to satiate the world’s growing hunger for silver, a lot of pressure has been placed on its supply chain. And with total annual supply recently exceeding 31k metric tons (1.0b ounces) for the first time ever, the suppliers of this white metal have so far made a valiant effort to meet demand.
Silver demand is on the rise for a variety of reasons, in large part due to big increases in investment demand. And this has naturally created a structural imbalance that has spawned a major secular bull market. A bull in silver of course translates to higher prices. And silver’s much higher prices have provided ample incentive for the major sources of supply (recycling and mining) to boost output.
On the recycling front, silver’s higher price (+1094% from its 2001 low to its 2011 high) has prompted more folks to recover silver scrap from devices that would normally end up in junk yards. And as a result, we’ve seen a 30% increase in scrap supply over the last 10 years (per the latest figures from research and consultancy powerhouse GFMS).