This platinum precious metal guide explains the value behind platinum and what the metal is primarily used for in commercial industries. We explore whether platinum is a rare commodity, how it’s produced, and which countries have the largest platinum reserves in the world.
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Contents
Why is Platinum Valuable?
Platinum is a rare chemical element found in the Earth’s crust. The greyish-white metal is one of the most intriguing commodities because its user base defies simple categorization.
Business sectors such as the automotive industry demand platinum for use in catalytic converters, while investors covet the metal as a financial asset and store of value.
Jewelry buyers seek platinum for its beautiful shiny appearance and resistance to tarnishing.
What Is Platinum Used For?
Most of the industrial applications for platinum were developed after the 1970s when air quality laws required catalytic converters on automobiles.
The following industries generate most of the demand for platinum:
| Use | Description |
|---|---|
Automobile Industry | The automobile industry accounts for almost 40% of gross demand for platinum. Automobile manufacturers use platinum in catalytic converters to control harmful exhaust emissions. |
Jewelry | The jewelry industry accounts for over 30% of the global gross demand for platinum. The metal’s shiny appearance and resistance to tarnishing make it a popular choice in rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches. |
Industrial Uses | Industrial uses account for almost 25% of global gross platinum demand. Products that use platinum include the following: Oxygen sensors Spark plugs Turbine engines Dentistry equipment and dental crowns Anti-tumor agents Standard weights and measures Magnets |
Investment Demand | Investors account for about 5% of global gross demand annually. Countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Isle of Man and China, mint platinum coins for investors. Investors can also purchase platinum bullion in the form of bars and ingots. |
How Rare Is Platinum?
The list of uses for platinum makes its comparison to gold seem obvious.
However, by some measurements, platinum is even rarer than gold. Miners extract only about 130 million tons of platinum from the ground annually compared to more than 1,700 tons of gold.
Platinum mining is also far less efficient than gold mining. The process of extracting the metal from ores can take five to seven months and may require ten tons of ore to yield one ounce of platinum.
The cost of mining an ounce of platinum is nearly twice that of mining an ounce of gold.
How Is Platinum Produced?
Platinum is a dense metal that is also malleable and ductile. It is extracted from ore bodies in mines that contain the platinum group elements (PGMs).
These elements – platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium – all have similar chemical, physical and anatomical properties.
Miners generally extract platinum from placer deposits, which are naturally occurring concentrations of heavy minerals. These deposits accumulate as a result of the effects of gravity on moving particles.
Platinum miners also extract the metal from sperrylite and cooperate, which are ores that contain platinum. Recycling scrap metal also provides a portion of the metal’s annual supply.
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Top Platinum Mining Countries
Annual mining of platinum totals hundreds of thousands of kilograms. This number has declined steadily in recent years as mining companies have cut back on production and closed mines due to low prices.
The Bushveld Complex in South Africa contains the largest reserves and supplies over 75% of the global output.
| Rank | Flag | Country | Mine Production (Kilograms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | South Africa | 120,000 |
| #2 |  | Russia | 23,000 |
| #3 |  | Zimbabwe | 13,000 |
| #4 |  | Canada | 9,000 |
| #5 |  | United States | 3,900 |
Which Countries Have The Highest Platinum Demand?
The US imports 18.5% of all globally exported platinum, while Japan imports 11.8%. Germany is responsible for 15.3% of palladium imports and the UK purchases 12.7% of the world palladium supply annualy.
China represents close to 6% of the total annual demand for platinum. Gross demand includes the amount generated from recycling platinum.
Source: OEC
Which Countries Have the Largest PGM Reserves?
PGM reserves are a measure of the quantity of economically mineable metals in the ground. South Africa has more than 90% of Earth’s PGM reserves.
However, mining is an expensive endeavor, and, ultimately, the price of the metals determines whether it is feasible to mine them.
| Rank | Flag | Country | Reserves (Kilograms) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  | South Africa | 63,000,000 |
| #2 |  | Zimbabwe | 1,200,000 |
| #3 |  | Russia | 1,100,000 |
| #4 |  | United States | 900,000 |
| #5 |  | Canada | 310,000 |
Brokers: Where To Trade Platinum
Interested in trading commodities like Platinum? Start your research with reviews of these regulated brokers available in .
IMPORTANT: CFDs are not available in the USA due to local regulation, and regulated brokers do not accept US citizens or US residents as clients.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Further Reading
Learned enough about how platinum is produced and what it’s used for? See our Guide To Platinum Trading and Today’s Spot Platinum Price.
If you’re interested in other precious metals, see these guides on:
- How gold is mined and who has the most
- What silver is used for in commercial industries
- Which automotive component palladium is used to create
