A huge spike in demand for physical precious metals has decimated available dealer inventories. The vast majority of gold and silver coins, rounds, and bars are either out of stock or come with extended shipping delays.

Premiums are spiking higher. Dealers have raised bid premiums ? the amount offered above the spot metal price ? dramatically along with ask premiums.

The market is still searching for equilibrium and bids dealers pay may need to go even higher to entice enough sellers to meet demand.

Demand continues to far outstrip available supply of minted items.

The problem is being compounded as mints and refiners close in response to the COVID-19 virus. The Royal Canadian Mint announced it will be closed effective March 20th for at least two weeks. Some speculate that the US Mint facility in West Point, NY may also suspend operations.

The outlook for supply is exceedingly difficult. Pandemic fears first drove unprecedented demand for physical bullion products. Now it may force the relative handful of major producers to suspend operations.

US Mint officials already suspended new orders for gold and silver American Eagle coins. They could also have to suspend all work to clear the backlog. Private mints and refiners are wrestling with the same challenges.

The supply problem, in our view, figures to get worse before it gets better. That means premiums are likely to go even higher from here.

Unfortunately, it may be quite some time before premiums fall. As described, the short-term outlook for fabricators is bleak. And order volume at Money Metals remains 4 times higher than the levels of just three weeks ago. Money Metals Exchange staff are working overtime to secure enough inventory and ship orders, and continue to raise bid prices.

It's Actually Possible for Retail Investors to Obtain Gold & Silver Near Spot

It's not surprising there is frustration from investors over current premiums. They want to take advantage of silver spot prices near $13/oz and then find the price of virtually any silver product is much closer to $19 or $20/oz, if not higher.

This is simply the result of essentially zero sellers and demand that's off the charts.

That's why Money Metals Exchange just introduced one very good option for gold and silver buyers. It is called Vault Silver and Vault Gold. Buyers can get ounces of .999+ pure silver or pure gold securely stored in their name and at super low premiums.

Premiums for silver start at just $1/oz and gold starts at just $5/tenth oz ($50/oz). (For now, there is an order minimum size of 200 silver ounces or two gold ounces.) Money Metals will buy back your ounces any time ? currently at the spot price.

Physical gold and silver investors can finally capitalize on today's low futures market prices and also get access to the lowest bid/ask spreads around!

Ounces purchased will be placed in Money Metals' Class III vault in Massachusetts without the big delays or the costs and uncertainties associated with shipping right now. Fees for secure storage of your metal are less than ½ percent per year.

The bottleneck in supply is currently limited to smaller fabricated products ? coins, rounds and silver bars of 100 ozs or less. Thousand-ounce silver bars and larger gold bars are currently available without huge premiums. It is allocated portions of those large commercial bars that will be held by Vault Gold and Vault Silver clients.

Clint Siegner is a Director at Money Metals Exchange, the national precious metals company named 2015 "Dealer of the Year" in the United States by an independent global ratings group. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Siegner puts his experience in business management along with his passion for personal liberty, limited government, and honest money into the development of Money Metals' brand and reach. This includes writing extensively on the bullion markets and their intersection with policy and world affairs.