**A festive buying frenzy in India, combined with years of quiet global demand outstripping supply, has pushed the silver market to its breaking point, sending shockwaves from Mumbai to the heart of London's financial district.** **London, October 21, 2025** — The global silver market is in turmoil, caught in a "perfect storm" that has seen prices surge, vaults run dry, and major banks struggle to meet client demands. What began as a traditional Diwali buying spree in India has spiraled into a worldwide crisis, forcing traders to airlift silver across continents and leaving investors rattled. The sheer scale of demand from India, coupled with persistent global supply deficits, has created a market breakdown not witnessed in decades. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}Just days ago, silver prices soared above $54 an ounce before a sharp, volatile correction, highlighting the extreme stress gripping the market. Traders in London described the situation as "all but broken," with some major banks refusing to even quote prices amidst a flurry of panicked calls. This isn't just a blip; it's a profound disruption exposing deep-seated vulnerabilities in how the world's silver supply functions. ^{[1][7][4][5][8][6]}### The Full Story The immediate spark for this global silver squeeze ignited thousands of miles away in India, where millions of people traditionally buy precious metals during the auspicious Dhanteras and Diwali festivals. This year, however, something shifted. With gold prices already at record highs, many Indian consumers pivoted to silver, fueled by social media influencers touting silver's potential for a massive rally. ^{[1][2][7][4][5][6]}Investment banker and content creator Sarthak Ahuja, with millions of followers, notably promoted silver as the "next big buy" after gold's historic run, highlighting its 100-to-1 price ratio with gold. T^{[1][2][7][5][6]}his online enthusiasm translated into an astonishing surge in physical demand. Vipin Raina, head of trading at MMTC-Pamp India Pvt, the country's largest precious metals refinery, was caught off guard. His company ran out of silver stock for the first time in its history. "This kind of crazy market — where people are buying at these levels — I have not seen in my 27-year career," Raina told Bloomberg. As I^{[1][2][7][3][6]}ndian buyers cleared out local inventories, the premium for silver in India, usually just a few cents above global prices, skyrocketed to over $5 an ounce, sparking fierce bidding wars. To ma^{[1][2][7][4][5][6]}ke matters worse, a week-long holiday in China, a key silver supplier, further tightened global availability. Bulli^{[2][3][4][5][6]}on dealers frantically turned to London, the global hub for silver trading, only to find its vaults largely depleted. JPMor^{[1][7][3][4][5][6][9]}gan Chase & Co., a major supplier to the Indian market, even informed clients that it had no silver available for October shipments to India, with the next availability only in November. This^[1][7][5][6] sudden, overwhelming demand from India converged with years of underlying market stress. The global silver market has been operating in a structural deficit for five consecutive years as of 2024, meaning demand has consistently outstripped new supply from mines and recycled sources. Since^{[10][11][2][12][13]} 2021, the cumulative deficit has reached an estimated 678 to 800 million ounces. ### ^{[2][13][6][9]}What This Means This crisis means real headaches for various players. Jewelers and manufacturers are struggling to source physical silver, leading to delayed deliveries and higher costs. Indus^[11]trial users, like those in the booming solar panel and electric vehicle industries, face supply chain disruptions and increased expenses, as silver is a critical component in green technologies. Even ^[11][14][13]financial institutions are feeling the pinch; borrowing costs for silver in London briefly hit an astonishing 200% annualized. For ^[7][5][15]investors, the volatility has been extreme. After surging past $54, silver prices experienced a sharp 6% drop, the biggest one-day fall in six months. This ^[1][8][9]correction was partly attributed to easing fears over U.S. credit risk and trade tensions, which reduced safe-haven demand for precious metals. The p^[8]hysical shortage has also created a "two-tier market," where paper contracts and physical silver are increasingly misaligned, making it difficult for traders. In In^[16][15]dia, some fund managers, including Kotak Asset Management, temporarily halted new subscriptions to silver ETFs as local vaults ran dry. **Ke^{[11][7][6][17]}y Points:** * India's festive season demand, particularly during Diwali, triggered an unprecedented surge in silver buying. * T^{[1][2][7][4][5][6]}he global silver market has faced a structural supply deficit for five consecutive years, with demand consistently exceeding supply. * I^{[10][11][2][12][13]}ndustrial demand for silver, especially in solar panels and electric vehicles, continues to grow, projected to exceed 700 million ounces in 2025. * R^[18][14][13]ecord inflows into global silver Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have absorbed over 100 million ounces of physical silver this year, further depleting available stocks. * T^{[3][9][6][17]}he panic reached London, where major banks struggled to quote prices, and borrowing costs for silver soared to as high as 200% annualized. ### ^{[1][7][5][15]}The Bigger Picture This isn't the first time the silver market has seen such drama. Traders are comparing the current turmoil to the infamous 1980 attempt by the Hunt brothers to corner the silver market. But h^{[7][5][6][15]}ere's the thing: this crisis is different. It stems from a structural shift in how silver is consumed and traded globally, rather than just speculative moves. Silv^[19]er is a unique "dual-identity metal," acting as both a precious metal and a vital industrial material. Its i^[18][14][20]ndispensable role in the green energy transition, from solar panels to electric vehicles and 5G technology, guarantees sustained industrial demand. This ^[14][20][13]robust industrial appetite, combined with investment demand from those viewing it as a hedge against inflation and currency risk, creates a powerful upward pressure on prices. The f^[18][20]act that about 70-75% of silver is a by-product of base-metal mining means its supply doesn't respond quickly to rising silver prices, exacerbating the shortage. Addi^[18]ng to the complexity, fears earlier this year about potential U.S. tariffs prompted traders to preemptively ship over 200 million ounces of silver into New York warehouses, further draining global reserves, particularly from London. ### ^[3][4][6][9]What Happens Next? Even with the recent price correction, analysts generally remain bullish on silver's long-term prospects. Most predictions indicate significant potential for price appreciation through 2025 and beyond. Citig^{[21][8][12][13]}roup, JP Morgan, and Saxo Bank have all set price targets around $40 per ounce for 2025, while GoldSilver's Lead Analyst Alan Hibbard anticipates silver reaching $40 in 2025 and an all-time high above $52.50 in 2026. Motil^[21]al Oswal Financial Services Limited even projects COMEX silver could hit $75 per ounce by 2026, with Indian prices soaring to ₹240,000 per kilogram by the end of 2026. Expert^[13]s warn that near-term volatility will likely remain high as the market grapples with this fundamental imbalance. Investo^[8]rs will need to watch for developments in central bank policies, global economic landscapes, and changes in supply dynamics from major silver-producing regions. The underlying structural deficit, driven by industrial and investment demand, is not expected to disappear anytime soon, meaning the pressure on silver supplies will likely continue. The si^{[21][10][11][18][8][12][13]}lver market has undeniably entered a new, turbulent era. What began as a cultural tradition in India has exposed the fragility of global supply chains and the immense power of synchronized demand, leaving market participants worldwide wondering how high the shine on silver will go.