Interview with Lon Shaver, President of Silvercorp Metals and Michael Konnert, President & CEO of Vizsla Silver Corp.

Recording date: 7th May 2025

The silver market is experiencing its fifth consecutive year of structural deficit, creating a compelling investment case as demand continues to outpace supply. This imbalance stems from the challenges inherent in developing new silver mines—including permitting hurdles, financing difficulties, and extended development timelines—while production costs rise at roughly 8% annually.

Unlike many commodities, silver benefits from dual demand drivers. Industrial usage, particularly in solar energy applications, continues to grow alongside global decarbonization efforts. Simultaneously, investment demand is rising, with the World Silver Survey projecting a 7% increase this year as investors seek alternatives amid economic uncertainty and following gold's upward trajectory.

Primary silver producers like Silvercorp Metals and developers such as Vizsla Silver are capitalizing on these favorable conditions. Vizsla's Copala Panuco project in Mexico demonstrates exceptional economics with a projected payback period under six months at current prices, while Silvercorp is leveraging its cash flow from Chinese operations to construct a second project in Ecuador, slated for commissioning in late 2026.

Both companies emphasize disciplined capital allocation and operational excellence. Despite having robust growth pipelines, they maintain conservative balance sheets while pursuing strategic expansions. This approach has enabled them to secure financing on favorable terms as investor sentiment shifts positively toward the sector.

Geopolitical trends are increasingly favorable to mining in key jurisdictions like Mexico, Ecuador, and Canada, where governments recognize the economic benefits of resource development. Vizsla notes that its operations could eventually support up to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, highlighting mining's contribution to local economies.

While ESG considerations are less headline-grabbing than in recent years, they have become standard practice for well-managed companies. Both Silvercorp and Vizsla integrate sustainable operations and community engagement as core business functions, improving their appeal to institutional investors.

Despite the favorable macro environment, silver equities have not yet fully priced in the underlying commodity dynamics, suggesting potential upside for investors. As broader capital markets reengage with the commodity sector, silver equities—offering both industrial utility and monetary potential—represent an underappreciated opportunity for investors seeking fundamentally supported long-term growth.

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