Infographic: Global gold demand;Global gold demand is being reshaped by shifting sovereign reserve strategies, changing investment behavior and an increasingly uncertain outlook.
Infographic: Global gold demand https://t.co/KL9R4F1O48
— MINING.COM (@mining) February 5, 2026
https://www.mining.com/infographic-global-gold-demand/
Without metals and industrial elements — steel, copper, aluminum, iron ore, nickel, zinc, titanium, etc. — human civilization cannot exist. Nearly all manufacturing is dependent on metals for industrial processes. Even plastics cannot be made without metals for the injection molding, and aluminum and copper are required for all electrical systems, both commercial and residential.
Yet right now, aluminum, copper and steel plants are shutting down worldwide. We’ve compiled a list (see below) of just some of the shutdowns so far this year.
Some shutdowns are happening under “force majeure” declarations. Others cite sky-high energy prices, and yet others say there’s not enough demand as the global economy implodes (by design).
In today’s podcast (below), I cover the global shut downs of metals smelting and fabrication operations, revealing the shocking global trend of the dismantling of infrastructure that keeps humanity alive. Note that this is happening in parallel with global shutdowns of:
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- Food, fertilizer and agriculture
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- Energy
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- Manufacturing
- Housing