Johnson Matthey Releases "PLATINUM 2009&qu...

LONDON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ --     PLATINUM

Platinum Market in Deficit by 375,000 OZ in 2008

    Global platinum demand fell by 5.0 per cent to 6.35 million ounces in
2008, according to Johnson Matthey in "PLATINUM 2009", released today.
Autocatalyst demand suffered due to a slowdown in North American and European
vehicle production. Industrial demand was also affected by the growing
weakness in the world economy and declined slightly. However, a fall in the
price of platinum revived demand from the jewellery and physical investment
sectors in the second half of the year. Supplies of platinum fell by 9.5 per
cent to 5.97 million ounces last year mainly due to a difficult operating
environment in South Africa. Overall, the platinum market was in deficit by
375,000 oz.



Platinum Supply Declines due to Problems at South African Mines

    Global supplies of platinum decreased by 630,000 oz in 2008 to a total of
5.97 million ounces. Sales of metal from South Africa fell by 540,000 oz to
4.53 million ounces as production was badly hit by a wide range of problems
including interruptions to electricity supply, bad weather, safety closures,
smelter shutdowns and shortages of skilled staff. Russian platinum supplies
decreased by 95,000 oz to 820,000 oz, while sales of metal from other
producing nations climbed marginally.



Auto Industry Demand for Platinum Falls for First Time Since 1999

    Gross autocatalyst platinum demand fell by 8.2 per cent to 3.81 million
ounces last year and remains weak. European auto makers reduced their
purchases of platinum for use in catalytic converters due to lower light duty
vehicle production, despite the greater use of platinum-containing
particulate filters on diesel cars. Platinum use in North America also fell,
reflecting lower vehicle output and continuing efforts to replace any
remaining platinum in gasoline catalyst formulations with palladium.



Jewellery Demand Improves in Second Half as Platinum Price Weakens

    Global jewellery manufacturing volumes were depressed in early 2008 by
the high platinum price but recovered later in the year in Japan and China as
the price fell. The amount of old jewellery recycled in Asia was extremely
high at the start of the year but decreased sharply as the falling price
squeezed recyclers' profit margins and discouraged individuals from selling
second-hand pieces. Annual net demand was thus much stronger than previously
expected, falling by only 6.2 per cent to 1.37 million ounces. Net global
physical investment demand increased by 150 per cent to 425,000 oz as
Japanese investors responded positively to the falling metal price in the
second half of the year.



Platinum Forecast to Trade Between $950 and $1,350

    While demand for platinum from the automotive and industrial sectors
remains poor, purchases by China's jewellery industry and by investors have
offset this weakness to date in 2009. Global platinum supplies are forecast
to rise marginally in 2009 compared to the previous year. Johnson Matthey
expects that supply and demand will be more closely matched in 2009 than in
2008 and that the price of platinum will be much less volatile. Any
improvement in the economic environment could help drive platinum as high as
$1,350 within the next six months. In any case, platinum should derive good
support from physical buying in Asia and from its strong longer-term
fundamentals and is expected to trade above $950 during the same period.



PALLADIUM

Palladium Market in Surplus by 460,000 OZ in 2008

    Palladium demand grew by 15,000 oz to 6.85 million ounces in 2008 despite
the effects of the global economic slowdown. Gross autocatalyst palladium
demand fell in North America due to a sharp decline in vehicle production but
climbed in Europe, China and the Rest of the World region. Net jewellery
demand and investment demand both increased strongly as did demand in many
industrial sectors. Total palladium supplies fell by 1.27 million ounces to
7.31 million ounces due to lower primary production and a fall in sales of
palladium from Russian state stocks. The palladium market remained in a
surplus of 460,000 oz in 2008.



    Supplies of Palladium Driven Lower by Fall in Mine Output and Decreased
Sales of Russian State Stocks



    Total palladium supplies fell by 14.8 per cent to 7.31 million ounces in
2008. South African palladium sales fell by 335,000 oz to 2.43 million ounces
due to the wide range of problems experienced by its mining industry. North
American supplies of palladium decreased to 910,000 oz as production was cut
in the final quarter of the year. Total Russian supplies declined to 3.66
million ounces: primary production fell and sales of palladium from state
stocks were 960,000 oz, over half a million ounces lower than in the previous
year.



Palladium Autocatalyst Demand Falls but Finds Support in Some Regions

    Gross autocatalyst palladium demand decreased by 3.6 per cent in 2008 to
4.38 million ounces. Although North America remains the largest market in
terms of palladium consumption, purchases of metal in this region decreased
by more than twenty per cent to 1.35 million ounces as light duty vehicle
production fell sharply. In Europe, increasing use of platinum/palladium
catalysts in the diesel sector outweighed the effects of lower vehicle output
and drove total palladium demand 30,000 oz higher to 950,000 oz. Gross
autocatalyst demand for palladium climbed in China, Japan and the Rest of the
World.



Net Palladium Demand Increases in the Jewellery Market

    Net demand for palladium from the jewellery industry increased by 19.6
per cent to 855,000 oz in 2008. Palladium jewellery demand in Europe and
North America grew to a combined 105,000 oz as palladium continued to
establish itself as a mainstream jewellery metal. In China, net demand rose
from 500,000 oz in 2007 to 650,000 oz in 2008 as the flow of recycled old
Pd950 jewellery stock decreased and manufacturing volumes of Pd990 palladium
jewellery were strong in the first three quarters of the year.



Palladium to Trade Between $180 and $280 During the Next six Months

    Although palladium demand increased during 2008, purchases are now being
affected by the weakness in the global economy: autocatalyst demand for
palladium is forecast to fall below 2008 levels and industrial demand remains
soft. While physical investment and jewellery demand could show some growth,
overall demand is expected to fall in 2009. Primary production is set to
decline, and if no sales of palladium are made from Russian state stocks, the
market could be in deficit. However, Johnson Matthey forecasts that sales
will again be sufficient to keep the palladium market in surplus. Investor
behaviour will be key to the performance of the palladium price: any rise in
commodity investment could see palladium trade as high as $280 within the
next six months. Without this investor interest, palladium could trade as low
as $180 within the same period.



    Platinum 2009 is Johnson Matthey's latest market survey of platinum group
metals supply and demand. This report, widely regarded as the world's
principal source of information on platinum group metals, is free of charge.
It can be viewed and downloaded as an electronic file or can be ordered in
printed form from Johnson Matthey at
http://www.platinum.matthey.com/publications/pgmreview.html



    Johnson Matthey is the world's leading authority on the production,
supply and use of platinum and the other metals of the platinum group. The
company's main activities include the manufacture of autocatalysts, platinum
process catalysts and speciality chemicals and the refining, fabrication and
marketing of platinum group metals.


    
    For further information contact:       David Jollie     [phone]
                                           Jeremy Coombes   [phone]
                                           Peter Duncan     [phone]