Shockingly enough, all the known and recorded silver in commodity warehouses and elsewhere only comes to 150 million ounces. Industry requires almost 900 million ounces each year. Something has to give. Mining and recycling falls way short of providing the necessary silver. New uses for silver keep expanding.
Silver is the best conductor of electricity.
It's an absolute necessity in high tech. Every computer, server, monitor, cell phone and switch must have silver. Lasers, satellites, high-tech weaponry and robotics, all require silver. Digital technology and telecommunications absolutely need silver. Around the house there's silver in every TV, washing machine, wall switch and refrigerator.