Platinum: A tale of two consumers

Summary

• Among platinum ’s diverse sources of demand, European and Chinese consumers remain the core drivers.
• Continuing rising incomes and a growing middle class could continue to benefit platinum jewellery demand in China.
• Tighter emission standards and strong auto sales may add further support to platinum demand in Europe.

Despite tepid growth and continued uncertainty, the global consumer has remained a resilient driving force in many economies. In the case of platinum, the continuation of healthy consumer spending will remain a critical driver for future demand, particularly among two consumer segments which have accounted for nearly 40% of average annual consumption.

Platinum demand is most often associated with the European automotive market, which accounts for 19% of average annual demand for use in catalytic converters for diesel passenger vehicles. What is less recognized is that over the last 5 years the largest contributor to demand (20%) has stemmed from another consumer segment – Chinese jewellery.

Platinum’s fate remains tied to Chinese jewellery and European auto demand

Average Annual Demand (2011-2015) by sector and region

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China’s growing middle class

Platinum jewellery fabrication in China fell approximately 8% last year with signs indicating this trend may persist throughout 2016. The jewellery sector in China has seen an overall slowdown in line with the country’s economic challenges. In response, consumers have tightened their belts, with the memory of last year’s equity market pullback still fresh and weighing on consumer sentiment. The Chinese jewellery industry has also struggled to operate in this economic backdrop as smaller fabricators have been driven out of the market while larger producers have downsized.

Recent changes in consumer preferences and spending habits have also impacted the platinum jewellery market. Last year saw consumer budgets shift to other discretionary purchases such as domestic travel and vacation expenditures. This was doubly impactful for the jewellery market as more consumers were traveling during holidays and foot traffic in jewellery stores fell during periods of traditionally high consumer spending.

China still remains a global growth engine with lots of pent up potential consumption

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Despite these challenges, there are several themes that lend support for the outlook of China’s platinum jewellery demand. China currently has the lowest consumption level relative to its gross domestic product (GDP) compared to the average emerging market economy and well below developed markets. Meanwhile, its share of global GDP was 17% at the end of 2015 and expected to reach nearly 20% by the end of 2021.

China will continue to play a key role in global growth in years to come as it continues to transition from an industrial to consumer driven economy supported by a growing middle class. As income per capita is expected to continue to rise in coming years, this may result in China moving higher up the “consumption ladder”. This would see marginal spending shift from consumer staples like food to consumer discretionary goods and services (like appliances and health care) and eventually reach higher levels of luxury goods.

Given China’s strong cultural taste for jewellery, higher spending capacity of a growing consumer base would likely see jewellery demand persist. China’s growing middle class consumer has already driven several themes which may continue to serve as a boon for platinum demand. While gold jewellery still comprises the bulk of demand, platinum jewellery in China has grown in popularity among younger consumers (millennials), which are a key and growing component of the middle class consumer market. Growing acceptance of platinum jewellery as gifts may be further supported by new product designs and promotions for platinum jewellery targeted at this segment during festivals such as Chinese Valentine’s Day. Additionally, expansion into new consumer markets among China’s third and fourth tier cities may further cement acceptance and expand platinum jewellery demand in the long run.

Tighter emission standards

Another key consumer segment for platinum stems from passenger vehicles in Europe. Platinum is a key component in autocatalysts for diesel engines, which due to tax advantages makes up the majority of the European passenger car fleet.

Despite Europe’s turbulent economy, growth is continuing to recover and consequently European light vehicle sales remain robust and continue to trend higher while overall retail sales in Europe have slumped so far this year. This spells good news for platinum since according to Thomson Reuters GFMS, 84% of European autocatalyst platinum demand in 2015 was used in the light diesel sector.

European car sales continue to trend higher despite slower overall consumer spending

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The Brexit vote appears to have weighed on car sales in July as European light vehicle sales fell 1.7% year over year and July new passenger car registrations fell 30% in the United Kingdom (UK) from the prior month. The full impact on European car sales emanating from Brexit remains uncertain, but July UK retail sales rose 5.9%, beating expectations, which may signal Brexit’s impact on the consumer was temporary. Overall, the European auto industry remains buoyant with improving employment and low financing costs may continue to entice consumers in other economies as well.

What should help soften any potential impact from Brexit on European car sales is the continued utilization of diesel engines and increased loadings of platinum used in diesel autocatalysts to meet higher emission and fuel efficiency standards. While diesel vehicles in Europe generally have lost market share in recent years to gasoline engines (which utilize palladium over platinum in autocatalysts), the introduction of the Euro 6 emission standards in 2015 helped offset this secular trend and may continue to positively impact platinum demand in years to come.

Eur0 6 put tougher limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions for automakers. While autocatalysts are not the primary technology to abate NOx emissions (lean NOx traps and selective catalytic reductions are used in the after-treatment for this purpose), according to Johnson Matthey, platinum can help optimize the process. Metals Focus estimates that this increased the average platinum loadings in catalysts by 10% in 2015 to compensate for the new emission standards, a trend likely to persist this year.

Going forward further reliance on diesel engines will remain a key component for automakers to meet European fuel efficiency targets. By applying the latest after treatments, diesel engines generate less pollution and offer better fuel efficiency than gasoline engines.

Investment Outlook

Platinum has risen 26% year to date as it has caught up to the strong year to date performance of its precious metal peers, gold and silver. Unlike gold and silver, which have seen a large influx of investor demand through exchange traded products (ETP) flows, platinum ETPs have seen slight net redemptions globally so far in 2016. The driver of platinum appears to be futures market contracts held by money managers. Should ETP investors also engage in buying platinum we could see the metal gain a second wind. In the long term, the fundamentals for platinum supply and demand remain constructive.

Speculative investors have driven the year to date rally in platinum so far

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For more information contact:

ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4330
E infoUK@etfsecurities.com

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