The dwindling ranks of geosciences professionals has impaired mining companies’ ability to quickly respond to surges in precious metals prices.
RENO (MINEWEB) – “A well-established feature of the precious metals market is the apparent inability for producers to raise production levels when demand and prices rise,” said HSBC analysts James Steel and Howard Wen.
“The paucity of trained professionals’ expertise helps explain—along with other factors—the weak supply response by producers to the surge in precious metals prices in 200-2012,” observed HSBC. “This is important to investors because it arguably contributed to the height and longevity of the precious metals rally; it also implies that future rallies are unlikely to be cut short by a rapid increase in mine output.”
An important component in our relatively positive long-term outlook for precious metals generally is the fact that demand exceeds supply in all four metals,” said the analysts, who suggest that lack of professional skilled and technical labor may be a key factor in the ability of mining companies to meet demand.
“If precious metals rallies are not be reversed by rapid increases in mine output, in part due to shortages of professional expertise, then prices may have to rise sufficiently to mobilize aboveground stocks, or deter demand,” they advised.