Mario Innecco, who runs the maneco64 YouTube channel, shares his thoughts on the record runs in gold and silver, outlining what these high prices say about the world.
‘This is I think the end of this fiat currency regime,’ he said.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Lead prices were volatile in 2025 amid investor uncertainty and factors like tariff threats.
The base metal is primarily consumed by lead-acid batteries, but is also used to produce radiation shielding, weights and, in the defense sector, ammunition. More recently it’s seen increased demand from the electric vehicle (EV) sector as a low-voltage auxiliary power source for lighting, windows and other essential systems.
Because lead isn’t usually mined as a primary metal, its supply is tied to other metals like zinc, silver and copper, making the lead price highly dependent on demand for these other metals — and by extension, fairly volatile.
Continuous contracts for lead on the London Metal Exchange (LME) started 2025 at US$1,921.44 per metric ton (MT) and saw steady upward momentum in Q1, rising as high as US$2,090.48 on March 18.
According to Shanghai Metals Market, lead’s early 2025 rise was supported by the end of the Chinese New Year holiday, as well as increased activity in the supply chain, which led to a limited increase in demand for lead ingot purchases. This activity coincided with destocking of lead inventories in western markets, which further fueled the price.
Lead continued to trade above US$2,000 for the remainder of March, but the start of April saw its price floor fall out — the metal hit its 2025 low of US$1,829.75 on April 9 amid a broader rout in commodities markets. This came after US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement on April 2.
LME lead price, 2025.
Chart via the LME.
Shanghai Metals Market notes that the tariff announcement came during the traditional off season for lead, with battery producers reducing production and weakening overall demand for the metal.
However, the lead price had rebounded as of the end of April, with rising demand driving down inventories in downstream industries. By the end of Q2, lead was once again trading above US$1,900.
Trade concerns remained present, and although lead ultimately wasn’t included in reciprocal tariffs, considerable uncertainty dampened sentiment during the metal’s normally peak August-to-September period.
During the year’s third quarter, a significant 45,150 MT delivery to LME warehouses in November pushed total volume to 266,125 MT, leading to a collapse in the lead price amid oversupply concerns.
Lead stabilized in the US$1,930 to US$2,050 range as the year drew to a close, spiking to US$2,078.84 on November 12 and to US$1,910.48 on December 12.
According to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG), global demand for refined lead is expected to increase by 0.9 percent to 13.37 million MT in 2026 after rising 1.8 percent in 2025.
In an October report, the organization projects a 6.6 percent rise in US lead demand for 2025, driven by higher domestic battery production. The ILZSG is also expecting greater 2025 lead usage in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and the UK, with a 1.8 percent gain in demand across the European Union.
However, a rise in Chinese demand in the first half of 2025, supported by a government trade-in policy for cars and e-bikes, was offset by lower exports of lead-acid batteries, which fueled demand growth of just 0.9 percent.
Many of these same factors are expected to carry over into 2026, with gains in Europe, Vietnam and the US expected to be offset by a forecast 1.7 percent decrease in Chinese demand.
On the supply side, mining output is expected to increase 2.2 percent to 4.67 million MT in 2026, with a 2.5 percent rise from Chinese operations, along with further gains from Europe and output recoveries in Australia and the US.
Refined supply is forecast to increase by 1 percent to 13.47 million MT over the next year, with gains from smelters in Brazil, India and Kazakhstan partially offset by lower production in China and the UK.
Overall, the ILZSG is expecting the lead surplus to grow to 102,000 MT in 2026.
According to a report from market intelligence firm Mordor Intelligence, lead-acid batteries are set to see increasing demand from data centers and 5G applications, where they are used as back-up power systems. The firm is calling for a 0.4 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next two to four years.
In terms of EV sector demand, Mordor sees a 0.3 percent CAGR over the next two years as low-speed EVs like rickshaws and golf carts gain greater uptake in emerging markets in Southeast Asia.
Lead’s supply side could be affected by changing dynamics in the silver market.
In a December 12 article, Fastmarkets notes that a high silver price is prompting producers to accelerate project development timelines, pointing to Silver Mountain Resources’ (TSXV:AGMR,OTCQB:AGMRF) Reliquias project, which is expected to enter commercial production in Q3 2026.
As far as 2026 goes, Fastmarkets is expecting balance in the refined lead metal market, with little supply growth and the price rangebound at around the US$2,000 mark.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Aurum Resources (AUE:AU) has announced Boundiali Gold Project produces more good drilling results
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Golconda Gold Ltd. (‘Golconda Gold’ or the ‘Company’) (TSX-V: GG; OTCQB: GGGOF) is pleased to announce that Alan Linden has been appointed as the General Manager of the Corporation’s Summit mine, located in New Mexico, United States.
Alan Linden has over 35 years’ experience as a Mining Engineer and Project Manager with a focus on underground mining and mine restart and expansion projects. Most recently working for a large multi-national mining contractor, Alan has spent the majority of his career working in the United States and Canada and will be based at the Summit mine. Alan is a Professional Engineer and has a Mining Engineering degree from Queens University in Ontario, Canada.
‘I am very pleased to welcome Alan as the General Manager of our Summit mine, which we are targeting a re-start of in the second quarter of 2026. Alan’s extensive experience in underground mining and project restarts and expansions will be invaluable to the Company as we start up operations at Summit. We are excited about the commencement of production at Summit, bringing a second operating asset in a tier 1 jurisdiction into the Company and adding significant exposure to silver going forward’ commented Ravi Sood, Chief Executive Officer of Golconda Gold.
About Golconda Gold
Golconda Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in South Africa and New Mexico. Golconda Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol ‘GG’ and the OTCQB under the symbol ‘GGGOF’. Golconda Gold’s management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Golconda Gold is committed to operating at the highest standards, focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates.
Cautionary Notes
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those statements regarding the Company’s intention to restart the Summit mine in the second quarter of 2026, the Company’s expected exposure to silver, and the Company’s future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words ‘believe’, ‘expect’, ‘aim’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘continue’, ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘forecast’, ‘predict’, ‘project’, ‘seek’, ‘should’ or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For further information please contact:
Ravi Sood
CEO, Golconda Gold Ltd.
+1 (647) 987-7663
ravi@golcondagold.com
www.golcondagold.com
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Highlights
– The Silumina AnodesTM pilot plant is constructed and operated at Altech’s premises in Saxony, Germany
– Strategic decision to transfer the R&D laboratory from Perth to Germany
– Location of laboratory and pilot plant in close proximity anticipated to benefit R&D testwork, the operation of pilot plant as well as provide cost benefits
– Appointment of new German based Chief Technology Officer (previous employee of Fraunhofer Institute)
The Silumina AnodesTM battery materials project involves game changing technology incorporating highcapacity silicon into lithium-ion batteries. Through in house R&D, the Company has cracked the ‘silicon code’ and successfully achieved a 30% higher energy battery with improved cyclability or battery life. Higher density batteries result in smaller, lighter batteries and substantially less greenhouse gases, and is the future for the EV market.
Altech has signed non-disclosure agreements with world leading automobile companies in Germany and the USA to supply commercial samples of the Silumina AnodesTM material for the prospective customers for in-house testing.
In conjunction with the repositioning of the R&D laboratory, Altech is pleased to announce that it has appointed German based Dr Luise Bloi as its new Chief Technology Officer. Dr Bloi has a Master of Science (M. Sc.) in Chemistry and has completed her PhD studies in Chemistry on ‘Carbon-based Anodes for Lithium All Solid-State Battery Concepts’. Dr Bloi has collected broad experience in the battery field working with Skeleton Technologies, ACC Automotive Cells Company and as a previous employee of the Fraunhofer Institute, Altech’s joint venture partner in the CERENERGY(R) Sodium-Chloride Solid-State (SCSS) battery project.
About Altech Batteries Ltd:
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC,OTC:ALTHF) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.
Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd
Contact:
Daniel Raihani
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
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Nine Mile Metals Ltd. (CSE: NINE,OTC:VMSXF) (OTC Pink: VMSXF) (FSE: KQ9) (‘Nine Mile’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that, due to strong investor demand, it has upsized the listed issuer financing exemption offering previously announced on January 5, 2026 (the ‘Offering’) from gross proceeds of up to $4 million to gross proceeds of up to $6.2 million
Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share of the Company (a ‘Common Share‘) and one (1) common share purchase warrant of the Company (a ‘Warrant‘), with each Warrant exercisable into one (1) Common Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of two (2) years, subject to the acceleration provision disclosed herein.
Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45- 106 – Prospectus Exemptions (‘NI 45-106‘), the Units will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in all provinces of Canada, other than Quebec, and/or other qualifying jurisdictions pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the ‘Listed Issuer Financing Exemption‘). The Units issued to Canadian resident subscribers under the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, and the Common Shares and Warrants underlying the Units, will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.
The Offering is expected to close on or about January 19, 2026 (the ‘Closing Date‘), or such other date as the Company may determine, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals.
The Company may pay finder’s fees in connection with the Offering comprised of cash equal to 8% of the gross proceeds of the Offering and finder warrants (the ‘Finders Warrants‘) equal to 8% of the number of Units issued under the Offering. Each Finders Warrant will be exercisable for one (1) additional Unit at a price of $0.19 for a period of two (2) years. Each Unit is comprised of one (1) Common Share and one (1) Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one (1) Common Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of two (2) years. The Finders Warrants will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four (4) months and one (1) day after the date of issuance.
Following the Closing Date, if the daily volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the CSE equals or exceeds $0.50 at the close of any trading day for ten (10) consecutive trading days, the Company may, at its discretion, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by providing not less than thirty (30) days’ notice to Warrant holders via press release.
The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for (i) exploration activities and related expenses on its critical minerals projects in the Bathurst Mining Camp; and (ii) general and administrative obligations.
In connection with the upsizing, the Company has filed an amended and restated offering document related to the Offering and the use by the Company of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ and has also made it available on the Company’s website. Prospective investors should read the amended and restated offering document before making an investment decision.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act‘) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
About Nine Mile
Nine Mile Metals Ltd. is a Canadian public mineral exploration company focused on VMS (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag and Au) exploration in the world-famous Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, Canada. The Company’s primary business objective is to explore its four VMS Projects: Nine Mile Brook VMS Project; California Lake VMS Project; and the Canoe Landing Lake (East – West) Project and the Wedge VMS Project. The Company is focused on exploration of Minerals for Technology (MFT), positioning for the boom in EV and green technologies requiring Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc with a hedge with Gold.
ON BEHALF OF Nine Mile Metals LTD.,
‘Patrick J. Cruickshank, MBA‘
CEO and Director
T: 506-804-6117
E: patrick@ninemilemetals.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s plans with respect to the Company’s projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company’s projects, the Company’s objectives, plans and strategies, the Offering, the listing of the Common Shares on the CSE, the use of proceeds of the Offering and other matters. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects,’ ‘plans,’ ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘intends,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘projects,’ ‘aims,’ ‘potential,’ ‘goal,’ ‘objective,’, ‘strategy’, ‘prospective,’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will,’ ‘would,’ ‘may,’ ‘can,’ ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the CSE, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, risks of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company’s reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280277
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Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) (‘Sankamap’ or the ‘Company’) the Company and its auditor continue to work diligently toward the completion and filing of the Company’s annual audited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 (the ‘Required Filings’). The Company has obtained approval from the Alberta Securities Commission to extend the Management Cease Trade Order (‘MCTO’) under National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders (‘NP 12-203’) until January 31, 2026. Sankamap confirms that it has received the crucial confirmations from the Solomon Islands government, and that the majority of the audit work has now been completed, with only a limited number of minor confirmations and outstanding items remaining. The Company is actively working to provide the remaining items and is contacting any parties from whom confirmations are still outstanding. Subject to the completion of these remaining items, the audit file is expected to enter the final stages of review and be nearing completion.
The Required Filings were due to be filed by October 28, 2025. In connection with the anticipated delays in making the Required Filings, the Company made an application for a MCTO under NP 12-203 to the Alberta Securities Commission, as principal regulator for the Company, and the MCTO was issued on October 29, 2025. The MCTO restricts all trading by the Company’s CEO and CFO in securities of the Company, whether direct or indirect. The MCTO does not affect the ability of persons who are not directors, officers or insiders of the Company to trade their securities. The MCTO will remain in effect until the Required Filings are filed or until it is revoked or varied.
The Company expects to proceed with the filing of its interim first-quarter financial statements shortly after the Required Filings have been completed and submitted.
The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in NP 12-203 by issuing bi-weekly default status reports in the form of a news release until it meets the Required Filings requirement. The Company has not taken any steps towards any insolvency proceeding and the Company has no material information relating to its affairs that has not been generally disclosed.
For further information with respect to the MCTO, please refer to the Company’s news releases dated October 21, 2025, November 4, 2025, November 18, 2025, December 3, 2025, December 17, 2025 and December 30, 2025, available for viewing on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
About Sankamap Metals Inc.
Sankamap Metals Inc. (CSE: SCU) is a Canadian mineral exploration company dedicated to the discovery and development of high-grade copper and gold deposits through its flagship Oceania Project, located in the South Pacific. The Company’s fully permitted assets are strategically positioned in the Solomon Islands, along a prolific geological trend that hosts major copper-gold deposits; including Newcrest’s Lihir Mine, with a resource of 71.9 million ounces of gold¹ (310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred).
Exploration is actively advancing at both the Kuma and Fauro properties, part of Sankamap’s Oceania Project in the Solomon Islands. Historical work has already highlighted the mineral potential of both sites, which lie along a highly prospective copper and gold-bearing trend, suggesting the possibility of further, yet-to-be-discovered deposits.
At Kuma, the property is believed to host an underexplored and largely untested porphyry copper-gold (Cu-Au) system. Historical rock chip sampling has returned consistently elevated gold values above 0.5 g/t Au, including a standout sample assaying 11.7% Cu and 13.5 g/t Au2; underscoring the area’s significant potential.
At Fauro, particularly at the Meriguna Target, historical trenching has returned highly encouraging results, including 8.0 meters at 27.95 g/t Au and 14.0 meters at 8.94 g/t Au3. Complementing these results are exceptional grab sample assays, including historical values of up to 173 g/t Au3, along with recent sampling by Sankamap at the Kiovakase Target, which returned numerous high-grade copper values, reaching up to 4.09% Cu. In addition, limited historical shallow drilling intersected 35.0 meters at 2.08 g/t Au3, further underscoring the property’s strong mineral potential and the merit for continued exploration. With a commitment to systematic exploration and a team of experienced professionals, Sankamap aims to unlock the untapped potential of underexplored regions and create substantial value for its shareholders. For more information, please refer to SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under Sankamap’s profile.
1.Newcrest Technical Report, 2020 (Lihir: 310 Mt containing 23 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t P+P, 520 Mt containing 39 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t indicated, 81 Mt containing 5 Moz Au at 1.9 g/t measured, 61 Mt containing 4.9 Moz Au at 2.3 g/t Inferred)
2. Historical grab, soil and BLEG samples from SolGold Kuma Review June 2015, and SolGold plc Annual Report 2013/2012
3. September 2010-June 2012 press releases from Solomon Gold Ltd. and SolGold Fauro Island Summary Technical Info 2012
QP Disclosure
The technical content for the Oceania Project in this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol., a Qualified Person in accordance with CIM guidelines. Mr. John Florek is in good standing with the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (Member ID:1228) and a director and officer of the Company.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
s/ ‘John Florek’
John Florek, M.Sc., P.Geol
Chief Executive Officer
Sankamap Metals Inc.
Contact:
John Florek, CEO
T: (807) 228-3531
E: johnf@sankamap.com
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not approved nor disapproved this press release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to Sankamap and there is no assurance that the actual results will meet management’s expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as ‘anticipates,’ ‘believes,’ ‘targets,’ ‘estimates,’ ‘plans,’ ‘expects,’ ‘may,’ ‘will,’ ‘could’ or ‘would.’
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding management’s expectations about obtaining the MCTO and completing the Required Filings within the anticipated timeline. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Sankamap does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements or information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company’s continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca .
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/280320
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Andy Schectman, president of Miles Franklin, breaks down recent silver market dynamics, including the massive rise in entities standing for delivery of physical metal, increased CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) margin requirements and China’s silver export controls.
‘We’re beginning to see at the highest level a change of mentality, a change of perception of what these metals truly are,’ he said in the interview.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
The silver price has reached unprecedented levels as rising demand collides with a persistent supply deficit.
Nations around the world are taking note, with China increasing its restrictions on silver exports in an effort to secure domestic supply for key industries. The country launched an expansion of its silver export controls on January 1, 2026, and silver surged to what was then an all-time high of US$83.90 per ounce in the lead-up to the new policy.
With strong fundamentals for the metal already in place for the year ahead, could tighter export restrictions out of China make an even stronger case for triple-digit silver in 2026?
“Prior to the introduction of the new export requirements, supply of physical silver was already tight,” said Checkan in a January 6 email. ‘Last year was the fifth straight year of deficit production, bringing the physical silver deficit to just under a quarter of a billion ounces … 230 million to be exact.”
Silver’s entrenched supply-side challenges are the product of several factors, he explained.
One is increasing demand for silver in the energy sector, whether from artificial intelligence data centers or cleantech applications, such as solar panels and electric vehicles.
That reality has merged with declining mine supply — it takes around a decade to bring a new silver discovery through to production, making it difficult to meet rising demand.
“Couple that with the fact that export restrictions (80 ton minimum of production, increased capital requirements, etc.) will take a significant portion of Chinese silver producers out of the mix for potential silver exports, and you get an immediate and significant supply stressor,” added Checkan.
Under China’s silver export restrictions, only 44 companies are licensed to send their silver to the global market.
China’s silver export restrictions are considered part of a broader trend of governments around the world tightening control over natural resources considered critical to industry and national security.
“The energy transition, the expansion of the solar industry, the development of electric vehicles and advances in high-precision electronics have steadily increased domestic demand for the metal.”
By placing silver under a strict state-controlled licensing system with designating approved exporters, the Chinese government is treating the metal in much the same vein as rare earths. Controlling supply of both commodities not only addresses its national economic goals, but also helps to control global markets as well.
The US also elevated silver to strategic metal status in November with its inclusion on its US Geological Survey’s critical minerals list due to its important role in building out advanced energy and defense technologies.
Silver’s inclusion on the list makes it a potential subject for a future Section 232 investigation — a formal process conducted by the Department of Commerce to determine if imports of certain products or materials are harming national security. The result of such proceedings could result in tariffs on silver.
It’s too early to determine the full impact of China’s new silver export restrictions, but there is potential for much tighter global supply, which could translate to increased price volatility for the white metal.
“The new regulatory framework limits exports exclusively to a small group of companies previously authorized by Chinese authorities. In practice, this scheme directly reduces the volume of silver available to international markets, as not all refining companies can obtain export permits,” wrote Di Giacomo.
“The importance of this measure is amplified by China’s dominant role in silver refining and processing, which gives it structural influence over global supply,’ he added.
That’s because China holds a very prominent position in the global silver market. The Asian nation is the world’s second largest silver producer, producing 3,300 metric tons of the metal in 2024.
It also hosts the third largest silver reserves at 70,000 metric tons.
China’s largest primary silver-producing operation is Silvercorp Metals’ (TSX:SVM,NYSEAMERICAN:SVM) Ying mine in Henan province, which yielded approximately 6.43 million ounces of silver in the company’s 2025 fiscal year. The asset has a mine life that is expected to last through 2037.
Although China follows Mexico in global silver production, it leads the world in globally traded refined silver, accounting for roughly 70 percent of the market. Silver exports out of China in 2024 reached a whopping US$3.8 billion.
China’s export curbs are sparking concerns about supply chain disruptions and higher costs for solar panels, electric vehicles and electronics makers worldwide. Commodities analyst Anton Kharitonov sees the potential for the silver price to rise as much as 30 percent over the next 12 months “if China applies these export rules strictly.’
“Looking ahead to the coming quarters, the silver market may operate under conditions of greater structural rigidity. If industrial demand maintains its growth pace and restrictions remain in place, any additional disruption to global supply could amplify price movements,” said XS.com’s Di Giacomo.
China’s silver export restrictions also have the potential to further widen the growing disconnect between silver prices in the physical and paper markets. Premiums are especially high in Asia and the Middle East.
For example, analyst Stjepan Kalinic wrote on January 5 that the heaviest‑traded Comex March 2026 contract closed on January 2 at US$72.265, while in Dubai the lowest price for a 1 ounce silver coin was US$99.93.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Brightstar Resources (BTR:AU) has announced Mining Approvals Received for Lady Shenton Mine in Menzies
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