Investing in Platinum
Platinum is the most expensive commodity of all. In 2010, when a tonne of copper cost almost US$10,000, a tonne of platinum would have required around $64 million.
Platinum makes beautiful jewellery and has knocked gold off its throne of being the most desirable metal for luxury goods buyers. It is also used in industrial applications, primarily in catalytic car converters which now have to be fitted into any new car produced in the western world. Both the US and Europe have tightened up regulations on clean air.
Researchers have experimented with silver, palladium and other cheaper alternatives but platinum has proved far more efficient than any other metal in reducing car emissions. This has not only pushed the price sky high, but will also ensure steady, high platinum demand for years to come.
Outside the southern tip of Africa, Russia is the largest producer and recently Zimbabwe has nudged into the third place on the world scene.
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