Gold prices hold losses as US-EU trade deal eases safe‑haven demand
Investing.com -- Platinum’s recent rally is unlikely to be sustained, analysts at Goldman Sachs said given softening Chinese demand, declining use in car manufacturing, and steady global supply.
The metal rose above $1,280 an ounce in late May, breaking out of its decade-long $800–$1,150 trading range, coinciding with Platinum Week and a bullish report from the World Platinum Investment Council.
Though Goldman attributed the gains largely to speculative and ETF-driven buying.
“We find that speculative and ETF demand largely fueled the rally to $1,280/toz and think that a sustained breakout is unlikely,” analyst at Goldman said.
The bank pointed to three reasons for caution.
First, Chinese demand appears highly price-sensitive. Imports and withdrawals from the Shanghai Gold Exchange picked up in April when prices were low but have slowed as prices climbed.
“Strategic buying has likely contributed to platinum’s range-bound trading over the past decade,” the bank wrote.
Second, long-term demand from the auto sector is weakening as China accelerates its shift to electric vehicles, which do not use platinum in their drivetrains.
In the West, internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles are expected to remain steady, but not enough to offset declines elsewhere.
Finally, Goldman sees stable to moderately higher global supply, led by South Africa, which produces about 70% of the world’s platinum.
Output could rise modestly, barring renewed power disruptions. High fixed costs and the fact that platinum is a byproduct in mining operations limit supply’s responsiveness to price moves.
Goldman expects prices to return to within the long-standing range as the recent rally loses momentum.