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Supply Squeeze to Prompt PGM Recovery
ETFS Trade Idea –Commodities – Supply Squeeze to Prompt PGM Recovery
Summary
Platinum and palladium markets capitulate
Over the last year the prices of platinum group metals (PGMs) have seen a momentous decline. Since the 23rd June 2014, when strike action in South Africa concluded, platinum and palladium prices have fallen 34% and 27% respectively (Source: Bloomberg). Being both industrial and precious in nature, they have succumbed to pressure from a softer economic outlook for China, a stronger US Dollar and broadly negative sentiment towards commodities. At current levels, we believe that platinum and palladium prices are at or near a bottom and offer a good opportunity to gain long exposure for those investors with a medium term time horizon. The current low price environment means that a considerable portion of PGM mines are currently operating in unprofitable territory, which should ensure that supply remains tight going forward. On the demand side, the roll out of further European environmental legislation later in the year should see increased usage within autocatalysts.
Positioning diverges
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) and futures positioning have considerably diverged in the past month (see Figure 1). From June to July, ETF holdings of platinum and palladium have increased by 4.4% and 2.2% respectively while speculative futures positioning has turned increasingly bearish. ETF investors typically exhibit contrarian behaviour, with low prices often stimulating bargain hunting, and this appears to be at work within the PGM space. Indeed, at ETF Securities the last week saw the largest inflows into Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) providing long exposure to platinum and palladium in over seven months. ETP flows appear to corroborate our view that prices are near lows and provide an attractive entry point for those that are bullish on PGMs in the medium term.
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Supply shortages to come
South Africa is responsible for an estimated 73% and 40% of global platinum and palladium production respectively (Source: Johnson Matthey). Last year’s labour dispute was the longest in South African history and resulted in an increase in labour costs for PGM miners that were already suffering from low margins as a result of depressed market prices. Put into perspective, according to the Thomson Reuters GFMS Platinum and Palladium 2015 Survey, the average total cash cost1 for South African platinum producers was US$1,272/oz in 2014 (see Figure 2), which exceeds the current platinum price of around US$955/oz. Although producers are finding some respite in a depreciating South African Rand (ZAR), many are currently operating at a loss. Two of the dominant platinum miners in the region, Anglo American Platinum (Amplat) and Lonmin, have recently announced plans to close mine shafts and initiate large job cuts in response to falling prices, actions which in the future are likely to result in supply shortages and should, once sentiment abates, spark a recovery in PGM prices.
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Legislation to generate European demand
Euro VI legislation is targeted at reducing the levels of exhaust emissions from vehicles on the road, specifically it is aimed at reducing the level of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and an array of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. It will primarily affect producers of new diesel cars as they will have to adhere to much more stringent emission limits. As such, from September 2015 (when legislation is due to be implemented), European autocatalyst demand for PGMs should grow and in turn support platinum and palladium price levels. This factor will be particularly important for platinum as approximately 42% of autocatalyst demand is sourced from Europe versus around only 24% for palladium (Source: Thomson Reuters GFMS).
Note: Total cash cost does not include: sustaining capex, indirect costs, corporate overheads, extraordinary costs or depreciation and amortization.
Investors wishing to express the investment views outlined above may consider using the following ETF Securities ETPs:
ETFS Platinum (PLTM)
ETFS Physical Platinum (PHPT)
ETFS Physical Palladium (PHPD)
ETFS Daily Leveraged Platinum (LPLA)
ETFS Daily Short Platinum (SPLA)
Swiss Franc Daily Hedged Platinum (CPLT)
The complete ETF Securities product list can be found here.
For more information contact:
ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com
Important Information
This communication has been provided by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (”ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (the ”FCA”).
When being made within Switzerland, this communication is for the exclusive use by ”Qualified Investors” (within the meaning of Article 10 of Section 3 of the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act (”CISA”)) and its circulation among the public is prohibited.
Stablecoins are digital currencies tied to assets like the U.S. dollar, offering the price stability needed for payments. They maintain their peg by being backed 1:1 by their underlying fiat currency, with issuers holding equivalent amounts in cash and cash equivalents, making stablecoins a digital representation of those reserves. Their market has doubled to over $235 billion, with daily usage nearly doubling in two years.
Why are stablecoins making headlines now?
Due to their clear product-market fit and growing mainstream adoption, stablecoins have become a top priority for regulation, with both industry leaders and policymakers calling for swift action.
On April 4, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance finally clarified that stablecoins are not securities if backed one-for-one by USD or similar assets and used for payments or value storage. These “Covered Stablecoins” are not marketed as investments, lack profit incentives, and include protections like reserves, making securities law registration unnecessary for issuance or redemption.
The GENIUS Act, introduced in February and advanced by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee in March, marks a major step toward creating a clear legal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight. This clarity is driving momentum as Fidelity is set to launch its own stablecoin, and Bank of America is preparing to follow it once legislation is finalized.
Globally, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework has already come into effect, reinforcing a broader shift toward formal integration of stablecoins into traditional finance. These developments reflect a growing consensus that stablecoins are emerging as essential infrastructure for global payments, treasury management, and digital asset adoption.
What are the benefits of stablecoins?
Stablecoins are digital currencies designed for fast, low-cost, and stable transactions. Since their launch in 2014, they’ve become a go-to tool for online payments, especially cross-border transfers. As they’re pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar or euro, they avoid the wild price swings seen in other cryptocurrencies.
They’re accessible to anyone with internet, making them especially valuable in regions with high inflation or limited banking access, like Argentina or Turkey.
With some built on public blockchains, stablecoins offer transparency, letting users track transfers and supply in real time. For institutions, they also simplify treasury management by acting as efficient digital cash that can be deployed instantly.
Who are the major players in the stablecoin race?
Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC), the two largest stablecoin issuers, collectively hold over $204 billion in U.S. Treasuries, making them the 14th largest holders globally. Their combined treasury holdings surpass those of entire nations, including Norway and Brazil.
USDT leads with $144 billion in circulation; USDC, backed by Coinbase and known for compliance, has become a trusted digital dollar across global finance.
Why stablecoins matter: A revenue engine for blockchains
Stablecoins generate steady revenue for blockchains like Ethereum and Solana by driving transaction fees with each transfer. With trillions in annual volume, they help sustain network activity beyond speculation.
On Ethereum, for example, USDT and USDC transactions are major contributors to daily gas fees. Year to date, Tether ranks #3 and USDC ranks #5 in terms of total gas consumed. Tether and Circle also dominate daily transaction activity on Ethereum, averaging approximately 12 million and 6 million transactions per day, respectively, making them the top two entities on the network by daily transaction count.
Meanwhile, on Solana, stablecoin activity has surged, helping sustain validator rewards and strengthen protocol economics. In addition to the mainstream utility, stablecoins represent reliable, protocol-level cash flow, making them crypto’s killer use case.
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Disclaimer
The information provided does not constitute a prospectus or other offering material and does not contain or constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction. Some of the information published herein may contain forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The information contained herein may not be considered as economic, legal, tax or other advice and users are cautioned to base investment decisions or other decisions solely on the content hereof.
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