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
South African exports to US face new 25% tariff, but with exemptions
By: Terence Creamer 24th July 2026 The US has, from July 24, imposed new tariffs of 12.5% on South African products for the country’s “failure to impose and effectively enforce a... →
R964m to be spent at Sibanye-Stillwater's K4 platinum group metals shaft 
By: Martin Creamer 13th July 2026 Remaining project capital of R964-million of the total of R4.4-billion in real 2026 terms is to be spent this year and next on Sibanye-Stillwater’s... →
South Africa's economic recovery entering uncertain phase amid growing pressure
By: Schalk Burger 30th June 2026 South Africa’s economy remains on a recovery path, but rising global pressures and cost dynamics are slowing momentum and reshaping the outlook for... →
Mintek outlines how value can be added to South Africa’s PGM mining industry
By: Martin Creamer 26th June 2026 South Africa's national mineral research organisation Mintek on Friday, June 26 spelt out how it can add value to South Africa’s platinum group... →
Sibanye-Stillwater’s mass of metal ‘probably one of planet’s biggest’
By: Martin Creamer 24th June 2026 This is an incredible endowment and we are executing a deliberate strategy to extract more value from every single square metre of our resource... →
South Africa’s Deputy President in hydrogen fuel cell working visit to China
By: Martin Creamer 22nd June 2026 As part of a working visit to China, South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile has met with a key industry organisation that promotes the... →
Platinum jewellery generates highest demand level since 2019
By: Martin Creamer 18th June 2026 Despite metal price and import tariff headwinds, platinum jewellery delivered growth across all markets in 2025, generating the highest demand... →
July’s Shanghai Week set to firm up platinum’s already solid status
By: Martin Creamer 15th June 2026 In a year where change is proving to be rapid and consequential, the major upcoming Shanghai Platinum Week is bound to connect key trends across... →
South African green hydrogen first-movers given major boost
By: Martin Creamer 5th June 2026 Enticing support for first movers into green hydrogen project development is on offer via a first-of-a-kind government-led framework designed to... →
Platinum investment demand broadening to minor PGM metals, SFA (Oxford) points out
By: Martin Creamer 3rd June 2026 The strong ongoing investment demand for platinum is broadening to the minor platinum group metals (PGMs) such as ruthenium and iridium, SFA... →
