Core Viewpoint - The announcement by the Guangzhou Futures Exchange regarding the public consultation on platinum and palladium futures and options indicates that these commodities are expected to be officially launched in China's futures market soon, marking a significant step towards the internationalization and diversification of the domestic futures market, while presenting new opportunities and challenges for market participants [1]. Group 1: Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) Overview - Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) include platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), iridium (Ir), osmium (Os), and ruthenium (Ru), which are known for their unique physical and chemical properties and extensive industrial applications [4][11]. - PGMs are characterized by high melting and boiling points, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and remarkable chemical stability, making them essential in various industrial processes [13][45]. - The supply of PGMs is highly concentrated, with South Africa being the dominant supplier, accounting for approximately 71% of platinum and 36% of palladium production globally [30][31]. Group 2: Industrial Applications - PGMs serve as critical catalyst materials in modern industrial processes, particularly in petroleum refining, chemical production, and organic synthesis, due to their high catalytic activity and stability [11][41]. - In the electronics sector, PGMs are utilized for their excellent conductivity and stability, playing vital roles in components such as multilayer ceramic capacitors and hard disk drives [48][55]. - The demand for PGMs is significantly driven by overlapping needs in the chemical and electronics industries, with specific metals like palladium and platinum being in high demand for various applications [37][39]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The global supply of PGMs is influenced by mining and refining processes, with a notable portion of the demand being met through recycling of spent catalysts [16][45]. - The market for PGMs is characterized by a unique dynamic where supply and demand are highly elastic, influenced by industrial metabolism cycles, which can buffer and amplify price fluctuations [45]. - The anticipated decline in global PGM supply due to production cuts in South Africa may impact market prices and industry dynamics significantly [35].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - Platinum and palladium are important members of the platinum group metals (PGMs), with high demand in practical applications. The supply chain of PGMs is in a "pyramid" shape, and the upstream mine resources are highly concentrated. The consumption of platinum and palladium is mainly in the fields of catalysts, jewelry, and other industrial applications, and there are various investment channels [1][14]. 3. Summary According to the Directory 3.1 Platinum and Palladium Variety Overview - **Natural Attributes**: Platinum and palladium are silver - white metals, belonging to PGMs and precious metals. Platinum has a crustal content of five - hundred - millionths, and palladium has a crustal content of one - hundred - millionth. Platinum is mainly used in industrial catalysts, jewelry, etc., while palladium is mainly used in the catalyst field [1][2][4]. - **Resource Distribution and Classification**: PGMs are mostly in the form of composite ores. Platinum deposits are related to ultramafic rocks and are formed through tectonic processes. PGM mines can be divided into primary and exogenous sand deposits. The main formation causes include magmatic action, magmatic hydrothermal processes, and exogenous deposition. Global PGM resources are mainly concentrated in five regions, and most of China's PGM deposits are symbiotic or associated ores [5][11]. 3.2 Platinum Group Metal Industry Chain - **Upstream**: The upstream mine resources are highly concentrated. South Africa is the main producer, accounting for nearly 80% of the global reserves. The production of platinum and palladium mines is facing bottlenecks, and the top 5 platinum producers account for 82% of the supply [21][25][26]. - **Material Supply and Recycling**: The platinum - group material industry is technology and capital - intensive. Multinational groups dominate the processing and recycling fields. In China, the recycling capacity of PGMs is expanding, but the secondary resource supply is becoming tight, and domestic enterprises face fierce competition [30]. - **Terminal Applications** - **Automotive Catalysts**: Platinum and palladium are mainly used as catalysts in automobile exhaust purification. Platinum has better performance in diesel engines, while palladium is more commonly used in gasoline engines [32][35][41]. - **Jewelry**: Platinum is suitable for high - end jewelry due to its high density, good ductility, and stability. Palladium is less used in jewelry due to its processing difficulty and color change [45]. - **Other Industrial Applications**: In the chemical, glass, electronics, medical, and hydrogen energy industries, platinum and palladium play important roles as catalysts or materials [46][47][48]. - **Investment Channels**: Platinum investment includes physical investment (platinum bars and coins), platinum accumulation plans (PAP), platinum ETFs, futures, forwards, and indirect investment through stocks [50].