Chinese Refiner Seeing Strong Platinum Demand From New Contract

A major Chinese metals refiner is seeing a large volume of demand for platinum to deliver against a new local futures contract, a sign of how the product is luring more of the metal into the country.

“Many speculators and industrial clients holding short platinum positions are choosing physical delivery” as the more profitable option than closing positions, said Wang Yanhui, general manager at Shenzhen Yuexin Precious Metals Co. Ltd. Many have captured the spread between the spot price in London, where the international benchmark is set, and the domestic exchange, he said.