Customs data show that China shipped roughly 5,100 tons of silver abroad last year, the strongest annual export performance since at least 2009. The figures arrive amid heightened speculation that Beijing may curb shipments of the white metal, a fear that has helped propel silver prices to record highs alongside gold. Those concerns were sparked in October, when Ministry of Commerce issued a document extending the country’s existing silver export licensing regime through 2027. While some investors interpreted the move as a prelude to tighter controls, exporters and analysts say the policy change was largely ... (full story)