Platinum, element symbol Pt, atomic number 78, is an extremely rare metal, found in the earth's crust in only 1/30 of the amount of gold. Platinum is the representative of platinum group metals, and its family, together with gold and silver, forms the noble metal family. Spot international platinum prices are currently fluctuating around $1,200 an ounce and have risen about 9 per cent this year, weaker than other platinum group metals but stronger than gold and silver.

The world's platinum mining is relatively concentrated, South Africa accounts for two-thirds of the world's supply of platinum and the rest distributed in Zimbabwe, North America and Russia. In South Africa, platinum supplies fell 25 percent last year due to outbreaks, power problems and mine equipment accidents and maintenance. Platinum supply is expected to grow by 20 per cent this year as refining and mining of South Africa's backlog of work-in-progress stocks resumes.

As a transition metal, platinum has a number of characteristics, including excellent ductility, thermal conductivity and catalytic activity, and is chemically stable at room temperature. In the future, with the growing supply, market application will become an important support for the long-term price trend of platinum. Platinum plays an important role in automotive manufacturing, jewelry, electronics, medical care, chemicals, fuel cell catalysts and other fields.