+Info   Platinum (atomic symbol Pt) is a relatively rare, chemically inert metallic element that is more valuable than gold. Platinum is a grayish-white metal that has a high fusing point, is malleable and ductile, and has a high electrical resistance. Chemically, platinum is relatively inert and resists attack by air, water, single acids, and ordinary reagents. Platinum is the most important of the six-metal group, which also includes ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium. The word "platinum" is derived from the Spanish word platina meaning silver.

Platinum is one of the world's rarest metals with new mine production totaling only about 5 million troy ounces a year. All the platinum mined to date would fit in the average-size living room. Platinum is mined all over the world with supplies concentrated in South Africa. South Africa accounts for nearly 80% of world supply, followed by Russia, and North America.

Because platinum will never tarnish, lose its rich white luster, or even wear down after many years, it is prized by the jewelry industry. The international jewelry industry is the largest consumer sector for platinum, accounting for 51% of total platinum demand. In Europe and the U.S., the normal purity of platinum is 95%. Ten tons of ore must be mined and a five-month process is needed to produce one ounce of pure platinum.

The second major consumer sector for platinum is for auto catalysts, with 21% of total platinum demand. Catalysts in autos are used to convert most of vehicle emissions into less harmful carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. Platinum is also used in the production of hard disk drive coatings, fiber optic cables, infra-red detectors, fertilizers, explosives, petrol additives, platinum-tipped spark plugs, glassmaking equipment, biodegradable elements for household detergents, dental restorations, and in anti-cancer drugs.

Palladium (atomic symbol Pd) is very similar to platinum and is part of the same general metals group. Palladium is mined with platinum, but it is somewhat more common because it is also a by-product of nickel mining. The primary use for palladium is in the use of automotive catalysts, with that sector accounting for about 63% of total palladium demand. Other uses for palladium include electronic equipment (21%), dental alloys (12%), and jewelry (4%).

Rhodium (atomic symbol Rh), another member of the platinum group, is also used in the automotive industry in pollution control devices. To some extent palladium has replaced rhodium. Iridium (atomic symbol Ir) is used to process catalysts and it has also found use in some auto catalysts. Iridium and ruthenium (atomic symbol Ru) are used in the production of polyvinyl chloride. As the prices of these metals change, there is some substitution. Therefore, strength of platinum prices relative to palladium should lead to the substitution of palladium for platinum in catalytic converters.

Platinum futures and options and palladium futures are traded at the CME Group. Platinum and palladium futures are traded on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). The CME platinum futures contract calls for the delivery of 50 troy ounces of platinum (0.9995 fineness) and the contract trades in terms of dollars and cents per troy ounce. The CME palladium futures contract calls for the delivery of 50 troy ounces of palladium (0.9995 fineness) and the contract is priced in terms of dollars and cents per troy ounce.

Prices - CME platinum futures prices (Barchart.com symbol PL) on the nearest-futures chart in 2017 move sideways all year to close the year virtually unchanged at $1,004.36 per troy ounce. CME palladium futures prices (Barchart.com symbol PA) on the nearest-futures chart in 2017 moved higher all year to close the year up +55.2% at $1,061.01 per troy ounce.

Supply - World mine production of platinum in 2017 rose +4.7% yr/yr to 200,000 kilograms but remained below the 2006 record high of 218,000 kilograms. South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum by far with 70.0% of world production in 2017, followed by Russia (10.5%), Zimbabwe (7.5%), Canada (6.0%) and the U.S. (2.0%). World mine production of palladium in 2017 was unchanged at 210,000 kilograms, which was below the record high production level of 224,000 in 2007. The world's largest palladium producers are Russia with 38.6% of world production in 2017, South Africa with 37.1%, Canada with 9.0%, and the U.S. with 6.2%. World production of platinum group metals other than platinum and palladium in 2015 (latest data available) rose by +34.3% yr/yr to 69,300 kilograms, but still below the 2007 record high of 79,600 kilograms.

U.S. mine production of platinum in 2017 rose +0.3% yr/yr to 3,900 kilograms, but still below the record high of 4,390 kilograms posted in 2002. U.S. mine production of palladium in 2017 fell -0.8% yr/yr to 13,000 kilograms, below the record high of 14,800 kilograms posted in 2002. U.S. refinery secondary production of scrap platinum and palladium in 2015 (latest data available) fell -8.5% to 39,000 kilograms, down slightly from 2013's 20-year record high of 43,000 kilograms.

Demand - This data is no longer available but in 2004 the total of platinum-group metals sold to consuming industries in the U.S. was 91,434 kilograms. At that time the two main U.S. industries that used platinum were the auto industry, which accounted for about 74% of U.S. platinum usage in 2004, and the jewelry industry, which accounted for about 26% of U.S. platinum usage.

Trade - U.S. imports of refined platinum and palladium in 2017 for consumption rose +77.0% yr/yr to 534,690 kilograms. U.S. exports of refined platinum and palladium in 2017 fell -0.3% yr/yr to 305,150 ki1ograms but still we1l below the record high of 403,640 kilograms in 2013. The U.S. relied on imports for 68% of its platinum and palladium consumption in 2017.

Information on commodities is courtesy of the CRB Yearbook, the single most comprehensive source of commodity and futures market information available. Its sources - reports from governments, private industries, and trade and industrial associations - are authoritative, and its historical scope for commodities information is second to none. The CRB Yearbook is part of the cmdty product line. Please visit cmdty for all of your commodity data needs.