Platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) are the two most commonly used of the six platinum-group metals (aka platinoids), which also include rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. As a group, these metals are rare in the Earth’s crust, silvery-white, malleable, and dense. They are highly resistant to wear, oxidation, and corrosion, have stable high-temperature and electrical characteristics, and exhibit catalytic properties.
The two metals are produced from primary mines and as byproducts from nickel and copper refining. They occur in unusual and specific geological environments in relatively few places on Earth. The largest deposits currently exploited are the Bushveld of South Africa, Norilsk in Russian Siberia, Great Dyke of Zimbabwe, Sudbury, Ontario, and Stillwater, Montana.
According to USGS estimates, 2012 platinum mine production was 179 tonnes and palladium was 200 tonnes, down 8% and 7% from respective 2011 levels. Recycling constituted about 29% of total supply. However compared to 2012 gold production of about 2800 tonnes, these are small markets supplied by a few big mines and companies.
South Africa dominated production at 74% with Russia at 13%. Remaining supplies came mostly from Zimbabwe, Canada, and the United States. Palladium mine production came from South Africa at 41% and Russia at 40%, followed by Canada, the United States, and Zimbabwe.
As with many commodities, the United States is largely dependent on foreign supplies: 91% of our platinum and 54% of palladium consumption are imported. We consume nearly half of the world’s platinum and 30% of its palladium supplies.
Because of their rarity and physical properties, platinum and palladium are considered precious metals and used in jewelry and investment coinage. However because demand is dominated by industrial applications, they are actually hybrid metals. Industrial use is overwhelmingly for chemical catalysts and dominated by exhaust systems for automobiles and trucks.
In 2011, platinum use stood at 38% for auto-catalysts, 31% for jewelry, and nearly 6% for ETF investments. Other important demand came from the glass, chemical, electronics, petroleum, and medical industries.
Palladium use was dominated by auto-catalysts at 71%. The electronics industry consumed 16% and dental, chemicals, jewelry, and minor uses constituted the remainder. There was a significant net outflow from ETF investments in 2011.
Because much of the world’s supplies come from geopolitically unstable, corrupt, and/or unfriendly countries and are dominated by a few major mines, districts, and companies, platinum and palladium are subject to supply and demand imbalances and price volatility:
Data Courtesy of Kitco.com
Since the price of gold was floated on world markets in August 1971, the platinum to gold price ratio (Pt: Au) has been greater than one (>1.0) about 85% of the time. Average monthly price ratios since 1970 are charted below:
Ratio reversals (<1.0) occurred at various time periods lasting from over two years to a one month spike in December 1992 when the historic low was set at 0.78. The most recent reversal was from November 2011 thru mid-January of this year.
Since 1970 the price ratio of platinum and palladium has varied generally between 2.0 and 5.0, largely reflecting palladium’s inherent price volatility compared to platinum:
Palladium price was fixed at the nominal price of gold ($35-36/oz) until mid-1972. From January 2000 to mid-2001, historic lows less than one (<1.0) occurred when rumors spread that Russia would cease stockpile sales to the West. Hoarding by American auto companies caused the price to briefly soar over $1000/oz. But then Russia’s balance of payments suffered, palladium was dumped on the market, and the price went parabolic. By July 2003, the metal reached a monthly average low of $162/oz. Ratio disruptions on the high side (>5.0) occurred in 1983-1984 and when auto industry demand collapsed during the global economic crisis in early 2009.
My interest perks whenever an anomalous Pt: Au ratio (< 1.0) occurs over a significant time span. This indicates that platinum is oversold and presents a buying opportunity. Such was the case beginning in November 2011; only recently has the ratio gone back over 1.0.
Several factors have caused platinum and palladium prices to rise substantially since early August:
- In 2012, South African and Zimbabwean miners engaged in widespread, violent strikes resulting in severe supply disruptions and constrained market supplies.
- An estimated 60% of South African mines currently operate at a loss or at break-even.
- Economic conditions in the United States and China continue to improve and that has stimulated automotive sales and increased demand for platinoids.
- Increasing environmental regulation of the auto industry in emerging market countries has resulted in higher demand, especially for palladium.
- Although information from Russia operations is closely guarded and always opaque, it has been widely reported that historic palladium stockpiles are depleted and exports will cease this year.
- Analyst consensus for significant 2013 supply deficits in both metals has led speculators to accumulate net long positions.
In my opinion, there is a new price paradigm developing for platinum and palladium. The supply-side case is particularly compelling with the economic viability of most primary platinum-palladium mines not economic given current price regimes. Unless prices rise substantially, South African supply disruption will evolve into long-term destruction. The bullish case is strengthened if Russian palladium exports are indeed ending.
To my knowledge, there are no new major mines that can replace these looming reductions in platinoid supply.
For a myriad of reasons, I maintain an ebullient view of platinum and palladium supply and demand fundamentals and predict that prices will remain robust for the short- to mid-term.
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