Peter's Blog

Are We Running Out of Gold?

Last May, the head of the world’s largest mining company said we’ve found all of the gold. Goldcorp CEO Ian Telfer told the Financial Times, “we’re right at peak gold here.” Peak gold is the point where the amount of gold mined out of the earth will begin to shrink every year, rather than increase, as […]

Fundamentals Point To Healthy Growing Gold Market (Video)

World Gold Council chief market strategist John Reade recently talked to Commodity TV about the current state of the gold market and what he sees in the future. Reade cast an optimistic tone, saying the supply and demand fundamentals point toward a healthy, growing gold market moving forward.

Silver Mine Output Drops for Second Straight Year; Industrial Demand Up

Global silver mine supply dropped for the second straight year as industrial demand rose for the first time since 2013, according to the World Silver Survey 2018 produced by the GFMS team at Thompson-Reuters and released by the Silver Institute this week.

Gold Has Two Fundamentals Going for It

There’s been a lot of focus on inflation and interest rates and how they will impact the gold market in the coming months. But gold has two fundamentals going for it that aren’t getting nearly the same kind of attention. Simple supply and demand. 

Global Gold Production Plateaued in 2017; Chinese Production Hit Record Low

Gold supply plateaued last year. Global mine output rose just a paltry 5.7 tons in 2017, according to data compiled by the World Gold Council. That represented the smallest increase since 2008.

Chinese Gold Consumption Surged in 2017; Production Fell

Gold consumption in China grew 9.41% in 2017, according to information released by the China Gold Association. Gold jewelry demand, especially in poorer regions, helped drive overall demand higher. The Chinese consumed 1,089 tons of the yellow metal last year. The South China Morning Post called the surge in demand “a big turnaround” after a […]

Peak Gold? South Africa Mines Could Be Out of Gold in 39 Years

South Africa may run out of gold within four decades, according to the Environmental Economic Accounts Compendium published by African Statistics Day. Analysts say that at current production levels, South Africa has only 39 years of accessible gold reserves remaining. This is significant considering South Africa ranks as the number five gold producing country in the world, […]

Two-Thirds of Top Silver Miners Suffering Significant Production Declines

The world silver market may be on the verge of a major supply crunch. Two-thirds of the top silver miners have suffered significant production decreases in 2017, according to information released by World Metal Statistics. Through the first eight months of this year, silver production in Chile has dropped 20%. Australian production has fallen by […]

Is a Significant Drop in Gold Production on the Horizon?

During the Denver Gold Forum last September, the chairman of the World Gold Council said he thinks the world may have reached peak gold. That is the point where the amount of gold mined out of the earth will begin to shrink every year, rather than increase, as it has done pretty consistently since the […]

Australian Gold Mine Production on Track to Fall By Half Over Next 25 Years

Australian gold output will peak in just four years and then begin a steep decline, according to a report issued by a Melbourne-based industry adviser. According to MinEx Consulting analysis reported by Bloomberg Business, Australian mine output will max out in 2021 and then fall by half into the mid-2050s, as aging mines close down.