Against an improving macroeconomic backdrop, the main segments of silver demand are expected to rise this year. Led by industrial and physical silver investment, global silver demand is expected to achieve an eight-year high of 1.025 billion ounces in 2021, according to the Silver Institute.
Physical investment, which covers silver bullion coin and bar purchases, is expected to achieve a six-year high in 2021 of 257 million ounces, as investors continue to add silver to their investment holdings.
Should the global economic recovery from the pandemic prove to be much slower than expected, however, this could weigh on base metal prices. This in turn could encourage investors to reduce their exposure to silver.
On balance though, the Silver Institute remains especially optimistic about silver's prospects for this year, reflected in the following insights for 2021.
Silver price and investment
The recovery in the silver price, which fir
