The data shows that open interest (OI) and delivery requests are not correlated with actual vault stock draining (withdrawals):

September 2025
* 58,447,367.60 toz were withdrawn
* 5,938 contracts stood for delivery representing 29,690,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~196.9% of contracts that stood for delivery
October 2025
* 58,447,367.60 toz were withdrawn
* 5,312 contracts stood for delivery representing 26,560,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~220% of contracts that stood for delivery
November 2025
* 30,373,255.35 toz were withdrawn
* 3,903 contracts stood for delivery representing 19,515,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~155.6% of contracts that stood for delivery
December 2025
* 22,255,597.57 toz were withdrawn
* 12,946 contracts stood for delivery representing 64,730,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~34.4% of contracts that stood for delivery
January 2026
* 51,329,014.89 toz were withdrawn
* 9,889 contracts stood for delivery representing 49,445,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~103.8% of contracts that stood for delivery
February 2026
* 51,176,538.34 toz were withdrawn
* 5,036 contracts stood for delivery representing 25,180,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~203.2% of contracts that stood for delivery
March 2026
* 33,214,278.86 toz were withdrawn
* 9,212 contracts stood for delivery representing 46,060,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~72.1% of contracts that stood for delivery
April 2026
* 22,900,496.03 toz were withdrawn
* 3,313 contracts stood for delivery representing 16,565,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~138.2% of contracts that stood for delivery
Context:
Thanks!
It happened back in February too (ending the month @ 176% of delivery requests). Seems clear to me that the bullion banks are just taking whatever they need from COMEX vaults to support the LBMA. LBMA spot and lease rates are both artificially low IMO as COMEX is being raided to keep the spice flowing (cheaply) to China and India. There is a total disconnect between...
December 2024 - August 2025:

September 2025
* 58,447,367.60 toz were withdrawn
* 5,938 contracts stood for delivery representing 29,690,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~196.9% of contracts that stood for delivery
October 2025
* 58,447,367.60 toz were withdrawn
* 5,312 contracts stood for delivery representing 26,560,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~220% of contracts that stood for delivery
November 2025
* 30,373,255.35 toz were withdrawn
* 3,903 contracts stood for delivery representing 19,515,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~155.6% of contracts that stood for delivery
December 2025
* 22,255,597.57 toz were withdrawn
* 12,946 contracts stood for delivery representing 64,730,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~34.4% of contracts that stood for delivery
January 2026
* 51,329,014.89 toz were withdrawn
* 9,889 contracts stood for delivery representing 49,445,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~103.8% of contracts that stood for delivery
February 2026
* 51,176,538.34 toz were withdrawn
* 5,036 contracts stood for delivery representing 25,180,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~203.2% of contracts that stood for delivery
March 2026
* 33,214,278.86 toz were withdrawn
* 9,212 contracts stood for delivery representing 46,060,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~72.1% of contracts that stood for delivery
April 2026
* 22,900,496.03 toz were withdrawn
* 3,313 contracts stood for delivery representing 16,565,000 toz
* withdrawn represented ~138.2% of contracts that stood for delivery
Context:
I just want to comment that your bullet point presentation of information is outstanding and very easy to consume
Thanks!
i am having a problem understanding how withdrawals can exceed contracts/deliveries
It happened back in February too (ending the month @ 176% of delivery requests). Seems clear to me that the bullion banks are just taking whatever they need from COMEX vaults to support the LBMA. LBMA spot and lease rates are both artificially low IMO as COMEX is being raided to keep the spice flowing (cheaply) to China and India. There is a total disconnect between...
December 2024 - August 2025:
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