The platinum market is at a pivotal crossroads, shaped by a perfect storm of supply-side fragility and demand-side transformation. For investors, this confluence presents a compelling case for platinum as a strategic long-term asset. South Africa’s ongoing mining strikes and infrastructure decay are tightening supply, while the global push for hydrogen fuel cell adoption is turbocharging demand. Together, these forces are creating a bullish outlook for platinum, positioning it as a hedge against inflation and a cornerstone of the industrial transition.
Supply Chain Disruptions: South Africa’s Perfect Storm
South Africa remains the world’s largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), accounting for over 70% of global output. However, the country’s mining sector is in crisis. Operational shafts have dwindled from 81 in 2008 to just 53 in 2025, a 35% contraction driven by unprofitable marginal mines closing and…
