The BRICS countries are strengthening their strategy of building up reserves of physical precious metals. Previously, gold was primarily the focus of attention, but now silver is starting to play an increasingly prominent role. Following the example of Russia and China, India has joined active purchases, which is preparing to purchase record amounts of silver for the entire 21st century.
Experts emphasize that this is not so much a speculative bet on the growth of quotations, but rather a systemic change in the approach to reserves. The value of silver on world markets can fluctuate, and its appreciation is not guaranteed. However, the key effect lies in another way — in the increased demand for physical metal.
Large-scale purchases of silver from the BRICS countries put direct pressure on the infrastructure of Western commodity markets. For decades, the largest exchanges in the United States and New York have been trading silver primarily on derivatives and paper settlements, where physical supply of the metal was not actually required.
The situation changes at the moment when large buyers begin to insist on real delivery. In such circumstances, exchange mechanisms face a fundamental question: are the real metal reserves sufficient to fulfill all contractual obligations?
The main intrigue that analysts are discussing today is the gap between the volume of "paper" silver and the actual availability of physical metal. According to market estimates, the volume of real stocks is noticeably lower than the figures that have been reflected in financial statements and derivatives for decades.
For the BRICS countries, this strategy solves several tasks at once. First, it reduces dependence on Western financial institutions and monetary infrastructure. Secondly, physical precious metals act as a tool for long-term financial stability in the context of fragmentation of the global economy. Thirdly, the pressure on the derivatives markets makes it possible to identify weaknesses in the global commodity system.
India, which traditionally has a high domestic demand for silver and a developed market for jewelry and industrial processing, considers the metal as a strategic asset. Combined with the actions of Russia and China, this is forming a new trend — a gradual shift away from abstract financial obligations in favor of tangible assets.
Analysts note that in the medium term, such steps may lead to a reassessment of the role of silver in the global financial system. Even without a sharp rise in prices, the market is already facing the main challenge — the need to prove that the real metal is really behind the "paper".
