Silver - Two Sides of the Story

The largest demand for silver is still industrial demand, making up over 50% of the total demand. Some of this silver is recycled each year primarily through photography, but much also from electronics and a small amount of actual scrap silver (jewelry and coin). The total recycled silver is significant, comprising approximately 180 million troy ounces, or just under what the iShares Silver Trust holds in the SLV ETF. GFMS stated lower scrap recovery even though prices of silver were going up in 2007. Further, supply side developments were also supportive, with government sales almost halving. Lower photographic scrap is the key reason total scrap supply fell.

Well that's interesting -- lower scrap recovery and government sales even though prices are rising. And of course we know that there were shortages in the coin programs, skewing the supply over demand statistics. I see quite the squeeze coming.