Silver Surge Breaks 90! Manic Metals Report 01/14/2026

Yet another metal milestone! Silver is leaving all competition in the dust—its staggering 195% year-over-year leap to $90.58 per ounce eclipses everything else in the commodities world. Gold’s “mere” 72% climb to $4,635 per ounce, copper’s 45% uptick, and platinum’s 122% surge all pale in comparison. Oil? It’s actually dropped 22% to $60.89 per barrel. Silver has truly claimed the crown as the undisputed commodity king of 2025-2026, propelled by a perfect storm of catalysts: the Fed slashing rates (which boosts appeal for metals that don’t yield), and geopolitical turbulence from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela shaking up global supply chains. Imagine oil’s legendary 2008 spike, but reversed—this time, silver’s ascent is all about demand, not just panic in the markets.
At $90 an ounce, silver now buys about 1.5 barrels of crude oil at $60 a barrel—a historic reversal! Traditionally, you’d need nearly four ounces of silver to snag a barrel, but today, silver is more valuable versus oil than ever before.
The silver-to-oil ratio hit a record 1.02 in late 2025 (compared to a 55-year average of just 0.33 barrels per ounce), shouting “supply crunch!” as silver skyrockets while oil faces oversupply jitters from Russia-Ukraine negotiations and Venezuela’s oil exports roaring back online. The energy connection is tightening too: demand for silver in solar panels is surging, so if the green tech boom continues, this ratio could squeeze even more in silver’s favor.
What’s fueling this rocket ride? Old-fashioned supply deficits. Silver has now seen seven consecutive years of global shortages, with demand outpacing mine production by 115–120 million ounces in 2025 and even bigger gaps looming for 2026. The reasons are clear: industry’s appetite for silver in things like solar, electric vehicles, and AI chips has ballooned 143% since 2016, while output has slipped nearly 9%. China’s export restrictions on silver at the end of 2025 only poured more gasoline on the fire, echoing a wave of “resource nationalism” as both the U.S. and China stockpile critical metals. Contrast that with oil, which is wrestling with the risk of a glut thanks to Venezuela’s comeback (possibly adding a million barrels per day). If silver’s deficit trend sticks, we could be eyeing $100 per ounce soon—some analysts are cautious, calling for $55 by mid-2026, but the bulls are dreaming of $200 (inflation-adjusted) highs not seen since 1980.
Geopolitics is piling on, too. Silver’s rally calls back the Hunt Brothers’ infamous run-up in 1979–1980, when prices spiked to $50 an ounce (equal to $200 today) during oil shocks and runaway inflation. The 2026 edition is even broader: tensions in Iran (threatening millions of barrels of oil supply), Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, and headline-grabbing Fed drama are all fueling a rush for safe-haven assets. Unlike oil, which whipsaws on every peace talk, silver is both an industrial powerhouse and a hedge—giving it staying power. Silver has soared 41% just this past month, trouncing oil’s 8% gain. In 2011’s debt crisis, silver peaked at $49; now, amid exploding sovereign debt, it’s shattering records again—this time without a speculative bubble to blame.
And the green energy boom is the ace up silver’s sleeve. Solar demand alone for silver has skyrocketed 143% since 2016, leaving oil struggling with the headwinds of renewables. Electric vehicles and 5G are only ramping up, setting silver up for further gains as we head into 2026, while oil could see continued pressure from Venezuela’s resurgence. For perspective: silver’s 160%+ gain in 2025 absolutely demolished the Nasdaq’s 22% and the S&P’s 17%—and it’s still considered “undervalued” relative to gold (with the gold-silver ratio now compressing from its historical 50:1 average). If the clean energy transition accelerates, don’t be surprised if silver charges ahead to $100, $150, or beyond—this metal’s moment might be getting started but beware of record swings as well.
Gold records lately are not as exciting as gold outpaced silver.  Gold also is getting a big rally overnight because of the threats by President Trump to attack iran because of the slaughter of the Iranian people for speaking out against the corrupt regime.  5
In January 2026, Iran was engulfed by its most profound civil unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as widespread protests fueled by crippling inflation and economic hardship rapidly escalated across the country, resulting in over 2,000 casualties. The Iranian government responded forcefully, launching mass arrests and expedited trials, while blaming foreign interference for the turmoil. In response, President Donald J. Trump condemned the regime, threatening severe retaliation if protester executions continued and imposing a 25% tariff on nations trading with Iran, which heightened geopolitical tensions and strained U.S.-Iran relations. Iran, in turn, placed its military on high alert and warned neighboring states hosting U.S. bases, as its UN Ambassador accused the U.S. of destabilization at the international level. These developments have had significant business and market impacts: the energy sector remains volatile, with silver surging as a safe-haven asset due to supply shortages and booming green energy demand, while oil faces price swings from both Gulf uncertainty and Venezuelan oversupply. U.S. tariffs are disrupting trade and increasing compliance risks for businesses operating in or with Iran, and companies now face heightened operational hazards, supply chain vulnerabilities, and reputational risks amid ongoing violence. Strategic priorities include closely monitoring geopolitical shifts, reviewing exposure to new sanctions and tariffs, ensuring supply chain resilience, and maintaining up-to-date risk intelligence. With the situation still evolving, businesses must brace for continued volatility in commodities and global markets, and proactively plan for potential escalations and regulatory changes as the standoff between the U.S. and Iran unfolds.
Copper is also looking solid as China’s trade deficit seemed to come out a lot better than expected once again the fear mongering about tariffs causing inflation turned out to be absolutely wrong.  Make sure you stay tuned to the Fox business Network to keep up on the latest , Call to open your account at 888-264-5665 or email me at pflynn@pricegroup.com.