Emerging PGM technologies
Opportunities and threats
In-depth research and analysis from an expert team
SFA (Oxford) is constantly monitoring emerging technologies for their potential impact on the shifting demand for PGMs and battery metals. Let us cut through the noise, and highlight the short to long-term price risk impacts for your business.
Where will PGMs go next?
Technology substitution is a feature of many industrial markets, where novel processes supersede existing processes, and can offer new opportunities for PGM use, or can destroy an existing PGM application. Of course, we also track intra-PGM substitution, frequently price-driven.
The powerful properties of the PGMs, with outstanding capability in areas such as catalysis, biocompatibility and durability in harsh environments, make them the go-to metals as new products and processes are developed. We highlight where the PGMs have the potential to disrupt existing markets and open up entirely new markets.
Case studies
The impact of electric vehicles on future platinum and palladium demand — commissioned by a major conglomerate
Long-term market impact analysis out to 2040
An evaluation of potential powertrain technology uptake trends out to 2040 including combustion engine evolution, hybrids, electric drive and fuel cells. The project also took account of country-by-country energy supplies, government policies and legislation, cities, and demographic considerations. In summary, using a range of electric vehicle sales growth scenarios to articulate the potential loss of PGM demand to the client.
Strategic metals assessment to support tomorrow’s hydrogen economy — commissioned by a consortium of technological leaders
Hydrogen market assessment
SFA (Oxford) provided a detailed report and presentation to a consortium of fuel cell technology companies, major automakers, gas companies, technology companies, and third-party manufacturers on the long-term viability of platinum and iridium supplies to support a budding hydrogen economy.
Identifying new demand opportunities for PGMs — commissioned by major PGM producers
Commercial evaluation of the fuel cell value chain
Analysis of fuel cells, with a specific focus on technological feasibility, commercial potential, legislative support and market drivers, ownership of IP/licensing as well as company supply chains and current commercial arrangements.
Tomorrow’s hydrogen opportunity — commissioned by a major PGM producer
Strategic planning for the hydrogen economy
SFA (Oxford) provided an independent assessment of the hydrogen economy, fuel cell technologies, Green H2 production economics, supply chains, and major players to help assess strategic investment opportunities.
PGM customers in the hydrogen economy — commissioned by major PGM producers
New customer targets
SFA (Oxford) identified and evaluated key PGM customers in the hydrogen economy, which provides a good long-term hedge for platinum as autocatalyst use declines, and secure demand for iridium and ruthenium.
Analysis of the unique properties of platinum
Platinum application showcases
An analysis was carried out of the unique properties of the metal and its value-adding contribution to the processes and reactions required for many mission-critical, high-performance, and everyday products.
Enhanced Investment Memorandum
Linking the use of PGMs in strategic applications with favourable investment returns
SFA (Oxford) assisted in the production of an Investment Memorandum (IM) for a new fund invested in PGM technologies in high-growth markets, providing clear insight into the benefits of PGM, how the use of PGM in innovative new technologies is rising, as well as how the fund's investment strategy aligns with global macroeconomic trends. SFA (Oxford) enhanced the IM with a compelling investment motivation supported by strong evidence of the successful adoption of PGM amongst end-users.
Contextualising prospects for the hydrogen economy — for a Family Wealth Office
Hydrogen market assessment
Market evaluation including assessing how technology shifts, legislative changes, and environmental issues will impact markets, and evaluation of niche applications in new end-uses and the long-term sustainability of these applications.
Let us help you identify your next opportunities and market threats
Contact one of our team for more details.
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant
Other PGM consulting solutions
Explore other services our clients use regularly.
Macroeconomics and precious metals
For many years, SFA's extensive expertise in analysing the changing dynamics of global economies, financial markets and precious metals has enabled us to deliver bespoke research to enhance your next strategy.
Automotive powertrains and PGM demand
SFA delivers detailed insights into the effects of new automotive technologies on PGM demand for light-duty, heavy-duty, off-road and fuel cell vehicles to meet government emission targets.
The future of cities and mobility solutions
SFA has advised mobility companies with their strategies, providing global or local industry context, benchmarking competitors, creating industry scenarios and identifying new opportunities.
PGM purchasing and new customer targets
SFA has explored the purchasing dynamics between market participants, the complexity of the associated price web factors for platinum, palladium and rhodium, providing definitive answers to commercial questions.
PGM catalyst and chemicals market intelligence
SFA is equipped to provide detailed regional insights of the major players, market shares, demand volumes, and market value for automotive, chemical and petrochemical catalysts, and smaller industrial markets.
Long-term PGM recycling value chain assessments
SFA's discreet work with recyclers gives us unique market insights, for the major regions of the USA, Europe, China and Japan. We also closely monitor jewellery recycling, electronic scrap and spent catalysts.
Jewellery pipeline mapping and econometrics
SFA has mapped jewellery pipelines, examined costs and margins, quantified future demand levels, and analysed the competitor landscape of fabricators, wholesalers, and retailers for future investment decision-making.
PGM trade flows and stock reconciliation
SFA analyses the physical movements of PGMs for demand-side and supply-side participants, how futures contracts are priced and traded, and quantifies above-ground PGM stocks from key sectors.
Closed and open-loop PGM market evaluation
SFA can provide you with the most insightful 360-degree research covering the secret closed-loop market sectors by quantifying installed capacities, system losses and top-up requirements by company and sector.
Formulating regional trading desk strategies
SFA has significant experience mapping regional and localised end-use markets for PGMs to assist clients in discovering new trading opportunities and client targets by volume and sector.
Augmented mine business planning and risk analysis
SFA has significant experience in reviewing mine business plans, identifying production risks and reviewing costs down to a half-level basis.
Due diligence studies and PGM commercial advisory
Working with clients and third parties, SFA has a long track record of providing technical due diligence and financial modelling support to help secure funding.
PGM mergers, acquisitions, and corporate defence
Clients have used SFA to provide the analytical link with banks and financial institutions to support PGM investment decision-making and provide market support.
IPO market chapters and PGM feasibility studies
SFA has supported numerous client listings by providing an independent view of the PGM markets to help secure capital from potential investors.
Peer-group benchmarking and margin analysis
Our PGM peer-group benchmarking is unrivalled, providing you with a detailed understanding of which assets are outperforming and which are most at risk.
Mine optimisation and cost benchmarking
SFA realises cost synergies for PGM clients across company operations to help raise margins and improve production efficiency benchmarks.
Covid-19 PGM market analysis and scenarios
With extensive experience covering the PGM markets and industry fundamentals, SFA can provide you with our latest market outlook and the window of scenarios.
Human capital and organisational planning
The SFA team has completed many labour workforce projects, analysing demographic trends, forecasting future labour requirements across mining operations.
PGM strategy, planning and Board support
SFA is a trusted advisor to Board members and senior management of significant stakeholders and provides regular assistance to strategy and planning efforts.
PGM price forecasting and project incentive pricing
SFA can provide accurate short-, medium- and long-term PGM price forecasts to support your business plans and contract negotiations.
PGM markets and supply risk dashboards
SFA provides regular data flows of mine supply and metallurgical pipelines, basket prices, mine economics, and PGM demand to assist strategic decision-making.
Metallurgical processing and commercial options
SFA has extensive experience in assessing clients' advanced mineral processing offtake options and evaluating indicative commercial terms.
'Black-box' PGM and macro scenario modelling
Clients approach SFA to run their own supply and macro modelling demand inputs to see the impact this has on the medium- to long-term PGM market balances.
PGM investor Board packs and roadshows
SFA supports its clients on global roadshows to assist on capital raisings and converse with fund managers, institutional investors and family wealth officers.
Black swan events and PGM market impacts
The SFA team is constantly providing rich insights for its clients on structural events moving the PGM markets, particularly when the situation continues to change.
Corporate ESG strategy and PGM stewardship
SFA works closely with value chain players to understand how materially significant ESG issues can be integrated into their wider company strategy.
Peer-group ESG benchmarking for PGMs
SFA's benchmarking of PGM producers on material ESG factors generates high-resolution insights for sustainability-conscious investors.
Cradle-to-grave ESG recycling studies
SFA's analysis of environmental footprints from recycled material in terms of greenhouse gases, waste generation and processing is helping secure new investments.
How can we help you?
SFA (Oxford) provides bespoke, independent intelligence on the strategic metal markets, specifically tailored to your needs. To find out more about what we can offer you, please contact us.