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Physical Desk

The Vault Board

Every series we track, sorted by how far from normal it sits. Each number carries its percentile of the full record and a lowest/highest-since anchor. All deterministic, straight from the source data.

Computed 7:31 PM ET

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The board right now

The thinnest supply cushion on the board right now is LME aluminum stocks (266,300 mt, 0th percentile of its record) and still draining — the least room to absorb a supply shock. Meanwhile 4 other buffers sit near record highs, amply stocked.

LME lead stocks 445,850 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d -0.3% Δ30d +49.9% pctl 100th
100th percentile of 19-yr record
Amply stocked and building — a deep supply cushion.
As of Jul 30
COMEX copper stocks 713,949 short tons QTY

Copper sitting in COMEX warehouses. Low is the thinnest buffer for industrial buyers if demand outruns supply.

Δ1d +0.5% Δ30d +7.1% pctl 100th
7-mo high
Amply stocked and building — a deep supply cushion.
As of Jul 29
SPR crude 307.6 MM bbl QTY

The government's emergency crude reserve. Low leaves the least room to cushion a supply shock.

Δ1d -1.2%wk Δ30d -7.1% pctl 1st
lowest since Mar 1983
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 24
COMEX registered gold 14.75M oz QTY

Gold locked in COMEX vaults and pledged as deliverable against futures. Low is the thinnest cushion if many holders demand metal at once.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -0.5% pctl 2nd
7-mo low
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 29
COMEX total gold stocks 27.04M oz QTY
Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -1.9% pctl 5th
7-mo low
As of Jul 29
COMEX gold coverage 38.3% RATIO

Physical metal backing each unit of paper claims. High is reassuring (more metal behind each claim); low is thin backing.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -8.9% pctl 9th
7-mo low
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 29
LME aluminum stocks 266,300 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d -0.6% Δ30d -12.3% pctl 0th
lowest in the 19-yr record
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 30
Tokyo retail gold (Tanaka) ¥23,395/g PRICE

What Japanese buyers pay for retail gold, in yen per gram. High means gold is dear in yen.

Δ1d -1.5% Δ30d +0.8% pctl 98th
98th percentile of 38-yr record
Historically high versus its own record.
As of Jul 31
LME tin stocks 6,195 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d -2.1% Δ30d -27.8% pctl 52nd
19-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 30
COMEX registered platinum 196K oz QTY

Gold locked in COMEX vaults and pledged as deliverable against futures. Low is the thinnest cushion if many holders demand metal at once.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -7.5% pctl 2nd
7-mo low
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 29
SLV shares outstanding 538.2M shares QTY

Roughly how much metal the fund holds for investors. Falling means investors are pulling money out.

Δ1d +0.6% Δ30d +1.5% pctl 87th
20-yr record
Investors are adding metal to the fund.
As of Jul 31
COMEX silver coverage 18.6% RATIO

Physical metal backing each unit of paper claims. High is reassuring (more metal behind each claim); low is thin backing.

Δ1d +3.1% Δ30d +9.4% pctl 100th
7-mo high
Amply stocked and building — a deep supply cushion.
As of Jul 29
COMEX silver deliverable share 29.9% RATIO

Share of COMEX warehouse stock that's deliverable rather than just stored. High is reassuring; low leaves less ready to deliver.

Δ1d +2.8% Δ30d +4.0% pctl 100th
7-mo high
Amply stocked and building — a deep supply cushion.
As of Jul 29
LME zinc stocks 100,700 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d -1.1% Δ30d -16.0% pctl 17th
19-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 30
Managed-money net copper (COT) 65,008 contracts QTY

How heavily speculators are betting, net. Far above zero is a crowded long, far below a crowded short, and either extreme is stretched positioning.

Δ1d -9.1%wk Δ30d -2.3% pctl 92nd
92nd percentile of 20-yr record
Crowded, one-sided positioning — stretched to an extreme.
As of Jul 28
COMEX registered silver 99.22M oz QTY

Gold locked in COMEX vaults and pledged as deliverable against futures. Low is the thinnest cushion if many holders demand metal at once.

Δ1d +3.1% Δ30d +7.1% pctl 83rd
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
Cushing crude 18.6 MM bbl QTY

Crude at the Cushing hub, where US oil futures settle. Low marks a tight delivery point.

Δ1d -4.0%wk Δ30d -1.9% pctl 10th
lowest since Aug 2014
Thin cushion and still draining — little room to absorb a supply shock.
As of Jul 24
LME nickel stocks 267,522 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -2.5% pctl 73rd
19-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 30
LME copper stocks 255,400 mt QTY

Metal in LME warehouses worldwide, the buffer for industrial users. Low is the thinnest cushion against a supply squeeze.

Δ1d -2.6% Δ30d -22.4% pctl 53rd
19-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 30
COMEX total silver stocks 332.23M oz QTY
Δ1d +0.3% Δ30d +3.0% pctl 62nd
7-mo record
As of Jul 29
US commercial crude 404.5 MM bbl QTY

Crude held by US refiners and traders. Low is a thinner commercial buffer.

Δ1d -1.7%wk Δ30d -1.9% pctl 74th
44-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 24
US diesel/distillate stocks 110.6 MM bbl QTY

US stocks of diesel and heating oil. Low is a thinner cushion for trucking, farming, and winter heat.

Δ1d +1.0%wk Δ30d +4.3% pctl 18th
44-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 24
COMEX gold deliverable share 54.5% RATIO

Share of COMEX warehouse stock that's deliverable rather than just stored. High is reassuring; low leaves less ready to deliver.

Δ1d -0.0% Δ30d +1.4% pctl 82nd
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
Japan gold reserves 846.0 tonnes QTY
Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d +0.0% pctl 100th
100th percentile of 26-yr record
As of May 1
GLD shares outstanding 353.2M shares QTY

Roughly how much metal the fund holds for investors. Falling means investors are pulling money out.

Δ1d -0.1% Δ30d +0.3% pctl 71st
22-yr record
Investors are adding metal to the fund.
As of Jul 30
COMEX platinum coverage 7.3% RATIO

Physical metal backing each unit of paper claims. High is reassuring (more metal behind each claim); low is thin backing.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -0.5% pctl 21st
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
GLD gold in trust 1,007.9 tonnes QTY

Physical gold the fund holds in trust. Falling means investors are redeeming.

Δ1d -0.1% Δ30d +0.3% pctl 68th
22-yr record
Investors are adding metal to the fund.
As of Jul 30
US Mint gold sales 8K oz QTY
Δ1d +1600.0% Δ30d +1600.0% pctl 14th
40-yr record
As of Jun 1
Managed-money net silver (COT) 9,182 contracts QTY

How heavily speculators are betting, net. Far above zero is a crowded long, far below a crowded short, and either extreme is stretched positioning.

Δ1d -18.6%wk Δ30d -21.8% pctl 23rd
20-yr record
Speculative positioning near neutral.
As of Jul 28
Turkey gold reserves 729.9 tonnes QTY
Δ1d -0.3% Δ30d -0.3% pctl 89th
26-yr record
As of May 1
Managed-money net gold (COT) 119,795 contracts QTY

How heavily speculators are betting, net. Far above zero is a crowded long, far below a crowded short, and either extreme is stretched positioning.

Δ1d -4.0%wk Δ30d +3.8% pctl 58th
20-yr record
Speculative positioning near neutral.
As of Jul 28
COMEX copper coverage 13.4% RATIO

Physical metal backing each unit of paper claims. High is reassuring (more metal behind each claim); low is thin backing.

Δ1d +0.3% Δ30d +0.7% pctl 69th
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
COMEX palladium coverage 10.8% RATIO

Physical metal backing each unit of paper claims. High is reassuring (more metal behind each claim); low is thin backing.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d -8.2% pctl 39th
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
LBMA London vault gold 304.29M oz QTY

Metal in London vaults backing the global spot market. Low is less physical float behind the market.

Δ1d +0.8% Δ30d +0.8% pctl 84th
highest since Aug 2022
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jun 1
COMEX registered palladium 202K oz QTY

Gold locked in COMEX vaults and pledged as deliverable against futures. Low is the thinnest cushion if many holders demand metal at once.

Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d +0.1% pctl 66th
7-mo record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 29
US Mint silver sales 260K oz QTY
Δ1d Δ30d pctl 17th
40-yr record
As of Jun 1
US gasoline stocks 211.3 MM bbl QTY

US stocks of gasoline at the pump's source. Low is a thinner cushion heading into driving season.

Δ1d +0.0%wk Δ30d -2.3% pctl 38th
37-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jul 24
United States gold reserves 8,133.5 tonnes QTY
Δ1d +0.0% Δ30d +0.0% pctl 78th
26-yr record
As of May 1
LBMA London vault silver 902.84M oz QTY

Metal in London vaults backing the global spot market. Low is less physical float behind the market.

Δ1d +1.7% Δ30d +1.7% pctl 38th
10-yr record
Cushion within its normal range.
As of Jun 1
Gold/silver ratio 70.9 RATIO

How many ounces of silver buy one ounce of gold. High means silver is cheap relative to gold.

Δ1d +1.1% Δ30d
As of Jul 31
Gold intl premium -1.2% RATIO

How far the local price sits above or below COMEX. A wide gap signals a tighter local market or local taxes.

Δ1d +1.6pp Δ30d
As of Jul 31
Palladium intl premium -0.1% RATIO

How far the local price sits above or below COMEX. A wide gap signals a tighter local market or local taxes.

Δ1d +2.6pp Δ30d
As of Jul 31
Platinum intl premium +2.2% RATIO

How far the local price sits above or below COMEX. A wide gap signals a tighter local market or local taxes.

Δ1d +3.1pp Δ30d
As of Jul 31
Silver intl premium +7.1% RATIO

How far the local price sits above or below COMEX. A wide gap signals a tighter local market or local taxes.

Δ1d +3.0pp Δ30d
As of Jul 31

Weekly series (EIA oil) show week-over-week in the Δ1d column. Percentile is the share of the full record at or below today's level; "n/a" means the stored history is too shallow to rank honestly.

Sorted by most abnormal (default)
LME lead stocks chart: 445,850 mt as of Jul 30, 100th percentile of its record. Today's furthest-from-normal series on The Vault Report board.
LME lead stocks chart: 445,850 mt as of Jul 30, 100th percentile of its record. Today's furthest-from-normal series on The Vault Report board.

Cite this page

The Vault Report. "The Vault Board | Metals & Energy by Abnormality." https://thevaultreport.com/board (Accessed July 31, 2026).