The only quarterly iridium price report

In response to requests for more regular iridium market intelligence, we now produce a quarterly iridium market report that allows you to keep up to date with this market. The Iridium Quarterly Market Report offers an independent iridium price outlook to 2026. It provides an update of the technological developments and underlying evolution of demand and end-use applications – LEDs, catalysis, biomedical, jewellery and automotive sectors.

Released four times a year on a subscription basis, this is a risk-focused iridium market report that details on-the-horizon, price-impacting factors, and is the only regular research report covering the iridium market on a quarterly basis, offering analytical charts and scenarios as an essential guide to today’s iridium market, and providing you with a competitive edge. The report contains SFA’s hands-on, forward-looking commentary and analysis on the events and trends currently impacting iridium supply, demand and pricing, and their market implications.

The content of each market report will vary according to iridium industry events, market developments, and demand updates by end-use but is tailored to incorporate an individual client’s specific strategic requirements. Typically, the reports will include:

Iridium demand impacts and new market threats:

• Macroeconomic outlook and impact on supply and demand fundamentals and technology, with assessments of monthly trade flow statistics of iridium exports and imports.

• Highlighting positive and negative metal demand implications by end-use. 

• Tracking and reporting on the evolution of iridium crucible (crystal growing) end-uses and iridium tooling equipment markets such as sapphire-based substrates for LED manufacturing (backlighting for LCD TVs and other types of lighting) and opportunities for iridium in OLEDs where iridium complexes are effective for electroluminescence, as well as RF filters, SAW filters (single crystal-Li tantalate), BAW filters, YAG crystals, optics, GGG crystals, LSO crystals and antenna switches.

• Tracking and reporting on the usage of iridium in the catalysis, biomedical, jewellery and automotive sectors, market intelligence on capacity by region and consumption, growth areas, and demand upside from capacity expansions, new end-uses and threats.

• Iridium catalysts in proton exchange membrane (PEM) technologies are used in electrolysers to produce hydrogen from water (using electricity from renewable energy). As the market for green hydrogen develops, tracking iridium's use in PEM electrolysers and iridium loadings innovations will be critical for the cost-effective uptake to meet long-term national decarbonisation goals to cut global CO₂ emissions.

• Relevant processes and technological developments in the chemicals sector from the production of chlorine, chlor-alkali and water purification, as well as BP's Cativa^TM process (acetic acid production).

• Future evolution and development of industrial technologies, both emerging and in decline, and identifying where new technology may substitute or thrift current iridium demand (within substrate, and the tooling sector), with substitution by molybdenum and tungsten etc.

• Other industrial end-use markets which use iridium such as electrical, medical alloys, reforming catalysts, spark plugs and glow plugs, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

• Legislation as a driver of demand, where it affects certain processes.

• Companies identifying mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and any other activities that may influence technology choices.

Iridium supply and mine economic impacts:

• Updates on the present and future stability and growth of primary iridium supply from the main producers, the implications of metal supply, and notable proprietary (discreetly derived) estimates of above-ground iridium stocks (stockpiles, working inventories and risk positions) that currently exist with producers, traders and recyclers.

• The economics of primary iridium supply, including factors influencing cost inflation and exchange rate and volume impacts.

• Commentary on the political and socio-economic risks impacting primary iridium supply in politically sensitive iridium-producing regions (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Russia).

• Iridium supply forecasts for nine probable projects, and nine possible projects.

Iridium price forecasts:

• Price history and performance drivers of metal prices with a five-year outlook to 2026.

• 'What if' scenario analysis and threats to current prices (substitution and new technologies).

Who should read this report?

• Iridium-/PGM-focused end-users and fabricators in need of a quarterly independent picture of the supply, demand, stocks and pricing of the iridium market and its evolving technologies and new applications. 

• Producers and fabricators requiring a quarterly independent review of end-use evolution, including opportunities, threats and substitutes, as well as an understanding of price risks.

Live Q&A with the analysts

• Each quarterly report is supported by a video call, most often hosted through MS Teams and led by Dr Jenny Watts, to run through our latest report, and address any further questions your team may have.