Impact of SA’s Covid-19 shutdown on platinum uncertain as supply slumps with demand

South Africa’s platinum mines have been idled for the past three weeks as the country rides out a national lockdown to curb an anticipated surge in Covid-19 cases across the country. However, while mining majors have indicated confidence that they will be in a position to recover, they will likely emerge from the shutdown battered, with the full impact of the Covid-19 virus difficult to predict.