Platinum demand increased by 32% year-on-year to 2.56-million ounces in the first quarter of this year, following a surge in investment demand, the World Platinum Investment Council noted in its latest ‘Platinum Quarterly’ report, released on Monday. Investment demand was high enough to offset declines in the automotive, jewellery and industrial segments, with total investment demand reaching 765 000 oz, owing to the largest ever quarterly increase for exchange-traded fund holdings, at 690 000 oz.
