The platinum market will swing into a supply deficit of 400,000 ounces in 2012 as South African supplies fall to the lowest level since 2001 and volumes from auto-catalyst recycling decline, Johnson Matthey said Tuesday in its Platinum 2012 Interim Review.
This is a turnabout from a surplus from 2011 that the firm put at 430,000 ounces.
“So you have effectively a swing of 800,000 ounces roughly,” said Tim Murray, general manager for precious metals marketing with Johnson Matthey.