Heraeus Precious Appraisal

Weekly precious metals report — co-produced with a leading provider of precious metals services and products

Since 2018, SFA (Oxford) has co-produced a precious metals report with Heraeus, a leading provider of precious metals services and products. Distributed weekly, this report provides regular insight into important trends in the precious metals markets. It covers gold and silver, as well as platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium.

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PGM market study on the size and dynamics of the Indian PGM market

Analysing capacities, industrial sectors, material flows, and end-uses

SFA (Oxford)’s Indian PGM market study included market intelligence on PGM demand split by sectors, local and imported sources of supply for end users, identification of major players and their services as well as PGM recycling developments and opportunities in India.

Precious metal demand trends in Southeast Asia

Analysing capacities, industrial sectors, material flows, and end-uses

An investigation was made into current and future trends and influences acting on industrial PGMs and their investment vehicles in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar and Australia.

Industrial sectors covered included glass, petroleum, electronics, chemical and medical. The investment sector took account of exchange-traded funds. A 'black book' of customers and suppliers was created, and PGM volumes required for each industry and customers were derived.

China PGM market study

Analysing capacities, industrial sectors, material flows, and end-uses

Over the years SFA (Oxford) has greatly expanded its analysis of the Chinese PGM marketplace. This study provides a detailed understanding of the precious metals trading environment, regulations, automotive catalyst manufacturing segment and its players, market size and global context, as well as recycling market volumes and forecasts.

A comparative analysis of the impact of future powertrains on PGMs, cobalt and lithium, with ‘bull’ and ‘bear’ cases for electric vehicle uptake

Influence of future powertrains on critical metals

SFA (Oxford) was commissioned by a major fabricator to undertake a full assessment of the metal powertrains mix for cobalt and lithium in electric vehicles and platinum group metals in internal combustion engine vehicles. The team considered different market scenarios and potential impacts on long-term metal prices based upon detailed supply and demand detailed supply-demand modelling.

USA PGM market study

Analysing capacities, industrial sectors, material flows, and end-uses to identify new client opportunities

SFA (Oxford) provided key PGM market data and useable information including procurement volumes and methods by sector and segment, new appliances of PGMs, forecast consumption volumes, PGM recycling loops, as well as a summary of the key players in recycling.

Strategic list of target customers

Ranking targets in the chemical sector for a client

Using our in-depth knowledge and understanding of PGM demand and metal flows to the chemical sector (silicones, nitric acid, paraxylene and PDH), SFA (Oxford) created a target list of potential customers for a client.

Precious metals chemicals industry 

Evaluating players, metal use, and business opportunities for a client

SFA (Oxford) undertook a detailed strategic intelligence report on the precious metals chemicals markets, including PGM demand volumes and market value by segment and region, as well as the competitive landscape.

Ruthenium value chain

The European and US ruthenium catalyst markets: Supply, sale and application

SFA (Oxford) analysed the European and US ruthenium catalyst markets (including recycling), considering their fundamentals, trade flows, and major players/buyers, and supplying actual pricing information for ruthenium to better frame the market’s commercial/trading environment through, for example, spot pricing and contracts.

The changing nature of the cobalt market and metal prices from the likely effect of automotive and battery technological advances

Cobalt market study out to 2040

A major cathode fabricator commissioned SFA to assess the long-term viability of the cobalt market in response to changing battery technology chemistries and performance factors for batteries in electric vehicles and to understand to 2040 the likely supply, demand and pricing profiles.

Global reconciliation of PGM flows through the open and closed-loop industries for a major fabricator

Full precious metals loop analysis, covering the value chain for platinum, palladium and rhodium, quantifying open- and closed-loop demand, system losses and recycling volumes

SFA (Oxford) provided a yearly snapshot of the PGM industry, detailing PGM volumes defined by the stream, including mining, consumption, precious metals in the loop (recycling volumes) and stocks. A high-level overview of the recycling sector covered key players and industrial segments, and the linkages and metal flow between each.

A detailed assessment of mining and secondary concentrates, chemical, and petrochemical, jewellery, dental, medicine, glass, electronic, production scrap and magnetic data storage sectors were covered. The SFA team provided installed industrial capacities of PGM, top-up requirements, major players and replacement cycles to complete a concise picture of the PGM markets.

Competitor purchasing intelligence

PGM use in automotive market and best-fit scenarios for a client

SFA (Oxford) helped the client better understand PGM use in the automotive market, then identified potential purchasing strategy developments to leverage the clients buying powers, reduce risk and guarantee supply.

Trends in PGM jewellery and consumer demand — commissioned by a major PGM fabricator

Long-term supply outlook for the retail PGM sector

SFA (Oxford) undertook a detailed commentary and analysis on demand for platinum and palladium for the manufacture of jewellery, as well as an analysis of large and small bars and noble coins. 

Global drivers for fuel cell adoption — commissioned by a fuel cell component manufacturer

Fuel cell market assessment

Fuel cell market study with a specific focus on drivers of adoption and applications, and opportunities in private and public transport.

Competition for PGM supply — commissioned by an electrolyser and fuel cell production company

Strategic metals assessment

SFA (Oxford) was commissioned to examine the future demand requirements for platinum and iridium, and the availability of supply to support the growing hydrogen economy.

Helping to find end-user targets on behalf of a lithium supply chain participant 

Identifying new strategic partners

Working with a lithium supply chain participant, SFA helped management to pinpoint new OEM customers for future commercial success.