The global silver market is currently locked in an extraordinary tug-of-war that has pushed the metal out of its historical trading lanes and into a full-blown geopolitical bottleneck. China has rapidly transitioned from a standard market participant into a voracious physical sink for global silver. In the first quarter of 2026, Chinese silver imports reached unprecedented heights—culminating in March volumes that were 173% above the 10-year seasonal average. China dominates global photovoltaic (PV) solar panel manufacturing. A sudden rush by domestic factories to beat an April 1 export tax rebate change triggered ... (full story)