Core Viewpoint - The silver market is experiencing a severe crisis due to a long-standing structural imbalance, exacerbated by a surge in retail demand in India, supply disruptions from China, and depleted inventories in London [3][4][10]. Group 1: Retail Demand Surge - A social media influencer in India sparked a retail buying frenzy for silver ahead of the Diwali festival, leading to unprecedented demand and a significant price premium of over $5 per ounce [5][6]. - Traditional gold purchases during the festival shifted towards silver, causing a dramatic increase in silver demand [5]. Group 2: Supply Chain Disruptions - Concurrently, Chinese factories were closed for holidays, which redirected global supply to London, where available inventory dropped to less than 150 million ounces against a daily trading volume of approximately 250 million ounces [7]. - The overnight borrowing rate for silver surged to an annualized 200%, causing major banks to withdraw from quoting prices, leading to a widening bid-ask spread [7][8]. Group 3: Long-term Structural Imbalance - The crisis is attributed to a cumulative supply-demand gap of 678 million ounces over the past five years, primarily driven by the booming photovoltaic industry, which saw demand more than double [10]. - Concerns over potential tariffs from the Trump administration prompted traders to move over 200 million ounces of silver into New York warehouses, further straining London’s reserves [10][11]. Group 4: Market Reactions and Predictions - Analysts had warned of a liquidity crisis in the London market, predicting that the situation would lead to a price drop, which occurred with a 6.7% decline after reaching a historical high of $54 per ounce [3][11]. - As silver began to flow into London from various sources, including New York and China, further price pressures are anticipated due to complex logistics and potential customs delays [12].