Depressed platinum is being nudged into a sweeter spot by a combination of the Covid-19 pandemic, new focus on diesel vehicles, trickling substitution of platinum for palladium and worsening supply constraints, Mining Weekly can report. Covid-19 funding demands are delaying the planned rollout of rival battery-electric vehicle infrastructure. Demand for platinum-using mild diesel hybrid vehicles that can meet emission-reduction legislation is rising. The substitution of expensive palladium for much lower priced platinum is edging its way in, and the delayed return of the processing chain of major platinum producer Anglo American Platinum is constraining supply.
