Copied22 Aug 2024 20:43
The introduction of Samsung’s solid-state batteries could have a substantial impact on the silver market. It is estimated that each battery cell may require up to 5 grams of silver, leading to a potential demand of 1 kg of silver per vehicle for a 100 kWh capacity battery pack. If 20% of the global car production (approximately 16 million vehicles) adopts this technology, the annual silver demand could reach 16,000 metric tons.
This would represent a significant portion (64%) of the current global silver production, which is approximately 25,000 metric tons annually, highlighting the substantial impact on the silver market. If this new silver solid state battery technology gains traction and just 32% of global car production were to use it over time, that would require ALL of the current silver production to meet this demand!
This comes at a time when silver is already in a deficit with industrial demand from the solar industry pushing total yearly consumption ahead of supply. Economics 101 teaches that with demand rising much faster than supply, prices are likely to move significantly higher. And the silver price has some catching up to do. While gold has been making a series of new record highs recently, silver is still trading 40% below record highs and needs to climb roughly 68% to return to prior record prices at $50 per ounce. And this is just the nominal price record. When adjusted for inflation, the price of silver needs to climb toward $200/oz to reach an equivalent price level as the 2011 high of $50.