Silver (XAG) plays a crucial dual role in the global economy as an industrial commodity and a safe-haven asset. Silver’s unparalleled electrical conductivity makes it essential for industries like clean energy and technology. In 2024, silver prices surpassed $30 per ounce. Strong industrial demand, geopolitical crises, and safe-haven buying fueled this price increment. This performance was supported by the supply deficit of over 200 million ounces, which sets the stage for a promising 2025. Moreover, silver’s importance in industrial and financial markets is growing, driven by emerging trends. The clean energy revolution and AI advancements position silver for a bullish trajectory in 2025.
On the other hand, analysts project silver’s industrial demand to reach 1.21 billion ounces in 2024, marking the second-highest year on record. Inflation will likely amplify costs in key industries like renewable energy and electronics, causing the significant supply deficit to persist.
Inflation in the energy sector also heightens silver demand for solar panels and electric vehicles, aligning with global green energy goals. Moreover, solar energy alone could account for up to 98% of global silver reserves by 2050.
In 2024, silver surpassed $30 per ounce, driven by strong industrial demand and safe-haven buying amid geopolitical crises. The above shows a trend shift in US interest rates in 2024. If interest rates further decrease in 2025, silver’s upward trajectory will likely continue. Historical data shows that non-yielding assets like silver gain favour during low interest rates. This trend aligns with 2025 projections of central banks adopting dovish stances to combat slowing economic growth. High inflation, sustained industrial demand, and potential rate cuts create a favourable environment for silver prices to rise further in 2025.
The transition to clean energy remains the most significant driver of silver’s industrial demand. Silver’s unparalleled conductivity makes it essential for solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), and nuclear reactors. For instance, in 2024, the U.S. installed 105 million solar panels, requiring 67 million ounces of silver. Furthermore, electric vehicles (EVs) use approximately 25-50 grams of silver per vehicle. As a result, with tens of millions of EVs expected by 2030, this will significantly escalate silver demand.
The chart below shows that the solar PV market is expected to increase to $383.78 billion by 2032, highlighting silver’s importance.
In addition, a nuclear reactor requires approximately 56,000 ounces of silver. Consequently, governments worldwide commission new plants from Poland to Japan, adding another layer to silver’s industrial growth story.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution is an emerging trend to drive increased silver demand. Silver’s exceptional electrical conductivity makes it indispensable in high-performance semiconductors that power AI systems. Technological advancements will require an additional 23 million ounces of silver by 2030.
AI data centres, which rely on advanced chips, depend on silver’s high conductivity and reflectivity, solidifying its role as a critical resource for the tech industry. The clean energy revolution and AI advancements provide a strong foundation for silver’s industrial demand in 2025 and beyond. These trends and a persistent supply deficit reinforce silver’s importance in global technological and environmental progress.
The technical outlook for silver remains strongly bullish, as seen by the chart below. It illustrates the formation of an ascending channel pattern over the past few years, reflecting a long-term bullish trend with higher highs and higher lows. Silver trades around $29.48 after testing its upper boundary near $34, indicating a short-term correction. The dashed trendline near $28 represents a key support level that could stabilize prices and provide a foundation for upward momentum. However, silver may test the $25 level if this support fails, aligning with historical support within the broader ascending channel.
The continuation of the ascending channel indicates a bullish bias for silver prices in 2025. This is supported by strong industrial demand and persistent supply deficits. If prices stay above $28 and rebound, silver could retest the $34 resistance zone. A successful breakout could target levels around $38–$43. However, geopolitical risks and changes in monetary policy will be crucial factors affecting price movements. Investors should closely monitor these technical levels and external drivers for opportunities in the silver market.
The gold-to-silver (XAU-XAG) ratio has approached the pivotal resistance zone near 92, historically marking silver’s relative bottoms. The ratio’s descent from its 2020 highs has been characterized by lower highs, and the current approach toward this pivotal resistance zone signals a potential bottom for silver prices. Historically, a peak in the ratio has produced a bottom in gold (XAU) and silver.
Recent movements in the ratio indicate that the ratio is trying to stabilize at lower levels. A break of the ratio above the pivotal resistance zone may continue to increase. However, a failure to break above this level could confirm a bottom in silver prices. A rejection at this zone could push the ratio toward the lower boundary near 76. This shift would strengthen Silver’s bullish industrial and investment outlook in 2025.
The bullish outlook for silver is supported by the quarterly chart, which reveals the formation of a cup-and-handle pattern. This bullish continuation pattern has been evolving in silver prices over several decades. The “cup” represents a prolonged consolidation phase from the 1980s to the early 2000s, while the “handle,” formed in recent years, indicates a final consolidation phase before a potential breakout.
In 2024, silver hit the critical resistance near $34, aligning with the rim of the handle. If silver decisively breaks above this level, the next target is the historical high near $50. This level was last seen in 1980 and 2011. Such price action could unfold in 2025, driven by bullish patterns, industrial demand, and supply deficits. Macroeconomic trends may further support this rally. A break above $50 may push silver prices into uncharted territory, depending on market momentum and demand-supply dynamics.
Silver’s outlook for 2025 appears robust, primarily driven by a confluence of macroeconomic and industrial factors. The persistent inflation, dovish monetary policies, and rising industrial demand are key drivers for silver prices. Moreover, clean energy initiatives and the AI revolution fuel this demand, creating a favourable environment for silver price growth.
In addition, technical patterns strongly validate a bullish trajectory, with potential targets at historical highs near $50. The gold-to-silver ratio’s approach to pivotal levels reinforces silver’s relative strength. Despite this, risks from geopolitical and monetary shifts persist. A break above $34 in 2025 could trigger a bullish move toward $43 to $50. Meanwhile, the $25 to $28 range remains a critical support zone for silver prices.
Muhammad Umair, PhD is a financial markets analyst, founder and president of the website Gold Predictors, and investor who focuses on the forex and precious metals markets. He employs his technical background to challenge the prevalent assumptions and profit from misconceptions.