Holdfast said:
^^^
ANC leaders plan to lower the South African platinum export quota.
Yip and the production this year is already down 20%. This is a ploy to push up prices and earnings in a falling production environment. As they produce 80% of the global Platinum and 40-50% of Palladium this is going to have an impact. I am constantly hearing roumors that the Russian Pt/Pd stockpile is almost depleted. This happened in 1997-98. Plenty of Pd until one day there was no more. That is why the Pd Emu of 97 had a production of 700 (out of a proposed mintage of 2500). I keep having to remind everyone that unlike gold or silver refining Pt takes 6-7 months. The September strikes in SA will only impact supply in March -April 2013. I don't know why the PM pundits are not screaming from the hill tops buy Pt and Pd ???? It is probably that they dont understand this market. I heard this question raised with brotherjohnf last week where he was asked about the value of Pt. His answer was completely wrong. He stated that Pt was too rare a metal to be of monetary value also it was too soft and easily destroyed ??? I value brotherjohn's comments on Ag but these comments on Pt are just wrong. Rarity does not make a bad investment and Pt is not soft - it is far harder and more durable than gold.
SS members please dont start discussing the virtues of a monetary metal vs a precious metal - heard it all before.