New Investment Options Could Increase Indian Silver Demand and Other Silver News

Silver demand in India is expected to increase with the introduction of new investment products. India already ranks as one of the world’s biggest silver consumers.

This is one of several silver-related stories in the latest edition of Silver News published by the Silver Institute.

Traditionally, Indian investors have favored holding physical silver. But according to the Silver Institute report, “Trends in Indian Investment Demand,” the introduction of new investment options, including silver exchange-traded products (ETPs) and digital silver will give Indian investors new opportunities to invest in silver.

The introduction of these options won’t likely replace physical silver, but it will provide investors with more liquid ways to invest in the metal.

As the world’s sixth-largest economy and foremost silver fabricator, India also plays an essential role in silver and gold investment demand, historically recognized in that market as savings and investment assets, a reflection of the low penetration of banking and other financial products. Today, with new investment products available to Indian investors, India’s role in silver investment has the potential to grow.”

“Digital silver” offers another new area of investment in India. On these platforms, investors can buy silver at a relatively low price point. The metal is then stored in insured vaults by the seller on behalf of the customer, who can either sell it back on the same platform or take physical delivery in the form of coins or bullion.

These new investment options could increase the demand for silver in India and ultimately impact global demand for the white metal.

The latest edition of Silver News also highlights some other fascinating technological advances utilizing silver, along with some developments in the silver market. Here are some highlights.

• Even though very small amounts of silver are used in solar cells, at the rate that the solar industry is growing, solar manufacturers would require over 20% of the current annual silver supply by 2027 and approximately 85–98% of the current global silver reserves by 2050, according to a study from Australia.
• E-commerce has spurred a new role for silver in photography. In order to ensure that an item for sale is accurately portrayed, they are often photographed inside light boxes coated with silver. The silver ensures an even distribution of light.
• A team of Chinese researchers has figured out how to 3D print hydrogels using stretchable silver-hydrogel ink. This method can be used to make various wearable hydrogel electronic devices with different functionalities for athletic and medical applications.
• Silver-coated test strips help doctors confirm heart attacks. These strips can detect a protein released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is damaged. Gold and silver nanoparticles speed up the testing process and make the results easier to read.
• Experiments using silver as an add-on antibacterial are showing promise in treating waste from poultry farms because of the metal’s ability to kill germs without harming the environment or chickens.