Platinum
Platinum is a dense, silvery-white precious metal with the chemical symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It belongs to the platinum-group metals (PGMs), which also include palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. Platinum is highly resistant to corrosion and heat, making it valuable for industrial applications as well as investment and jewellery. The metal is primarily used in autocatalysts for vehicle emissions control systems, accounting for a significant share of global demand. Other major applications include jewellery manufacturing, particularly in Asia, and industrial uses such as petroleum refining, electronics, medical devices and glass production. Platinum is also traded as a commodity on global markets, with prices influenced by supply constraints, automotive demand, investment flows and broader economic conditions. The metal is rarer than gold and is mined predominantly in South Africa and Russia, with smaller production from Zimbabwe, Canada and the United States. Platinum's dual role as both an industrial metal and a store of value means its price can be volatile, responding to shifts in automotive production, environmental regulation, currency movements and geopolitical risk. Investors access platinum through physical bullion, exchange-traded funds and futures contracts.
Platinum Updates
Platinum-catalysed hydrogen mobility receiving strong backing, says WPIC
By: Martin Creamer Updated 3 hours ago Industry leaders have combined forces to assert their commitment to hydrogen mobility solutions for heavy-duty transport in Europe, the World... →
Customers reaffirm increased 2027 demand for Implats’ products 
By: Martin Creamer 29th October 2026 Annual contractual negotiations with core customers has reaffirmed increased 2027 demand for the sustainable and responsible supply of all the... →
Household financial resilience continues to rise, but fuel prices and rate hikes slow recovery
By: Natasha Odendaal 29th October 2026 South African households improved their financial resilience for the ninth consecutive quarter in the three months to June 2026, however, rising... →
Cash on hand for study plus early mine preparations, Southern Palladium reports
By: Martin Creamer 28th October 2026 Combined cash and term deposits support the continued advancement of the Bengwenyama platinum group metals (PGMs) project through the definitive... →
Industry, civil society, academia welcome Treasury’s fiscal discipline amid weak growth
By: Lumkile Nkomfe 22nd October 2026 Business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) views the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as proof that government’s... →
Minerals Council welcomes fiscal progress, calls for accelerated structural reforms
By: Martin Creamer 21st October 2026 The Minerals Council South Africa welcomes the commitment in the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to fiscal sustainability and... →
Mining industry focused on creating sustainable State capacity to drive development, Joburg Indaba hears
By: Schalk Burger 7th October 2026 South Africa's mining industry, which has developed infrastructure to support mines and their surrounding communities, is working with government... →
Catalytic power of platinum, palladium being eyed for drones
By: Martin Creamer 1st October 2026 The catalytic properties of platinum and palladium are being researched and developed as a potential source of significant upliftment for drones.... →
US-South Africa rift: separating the optics from the substance
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 30th September 2026 As political space between the countries widens, durable commercial ties and strategic interests provide room for a pragmatic bargain. Despite... →
South Africa’s complementary A2X exchange attracts another mining listing
By: Martin Creamer 29th September 2026 The ordinary shares of precious metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater have been approved for inclusion in the list of qualifying equity... →
