en.Wedoany.com Reported - Industrias Peñoles, a Mexican mining and metallurgical company, recently reviewed multiple industry research reports to map out the downstream demand landscape for strategic metals such as silver, zinc, copper, lead, and gold. The company stated that these metals are key raw materials required for infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies, and the energy transition, and that their supply capacity directly affects the stability of related industrial chains.

According to the "Silver 2024" report published by GFMS by Refinitiv, industrial applications account for 59.0% of global silver demand, driven mainly by silver's excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, which makes it a critical material in the manufacturing of electronic components and solar panels; jewelry and silverware account for 20.5%, and medals and coins account for 20.5%. These figures do not include financial investment demand.

Zinc applications are concentrated in infrastructure protection. The "Global Zinc Investment Horizon Outlook Q4 2025" published by Wood Mackenzie shows that 60.0% of global zinc demand is used in galvanizing processes to protect steel from corrosion; of the remaining demand, 13.0% is used in die-casting alloys, 11.0% in brass, 9.0% in oxides and chemicals, and 5.0% in rolled and extruded products.

In the case of copper, data from Wood Mackenzie's "Global Copper Investment Horizon Outlook Q4 2024" shows that 30.0% of global copper demand is used directly in power grids, 25.0% is absorbed by the construction industry, 21.0% is used in consumer products, 14.0% in transportation, and 10.0% in industrial machinery. These figures reflect copper's critical role in sustainable transportation and emissions reduction.

Lead's dominant application is concentrated in the energy storage sector. The research report "Global Lead Investment Horizon Outlook Q4 2025" by Wood Mackenzie shows that 88.1% of lead demand is used in the manufacturing of storage batteries, which are core components of renewable energy hybrid grids and backup systems for critical infrastructure; the remaining 11.9% is used in other specialized industrial applications.

In the case of gold, the "Gold 2024" report by GFMS by Refinitiv shows that 74.2% of gold demand is concentrated in jewelry, 9.1% is used in gold coins, and 13.4% flows into the electronics industry, owing to its corrosion resistance and conductivity in critical connections; an additional 2.5% is used for purely industrial purposes, and 0.8% in dental and medical applications. These figures do not include financial investment demand.

To meet the supply demand for these strategic metals, Peñoles stated that it will continue to operate under strict environmental, social, and governance standards, creating value for communities and the industry.