This year, Shanghai Platinum Week (SPW), co-organised by the WPIC, China Gold Association Platinum Committee, and the Precious Metals Industrial Committee, China Material Recycling Association, will take place between 8 and 11 July.
Since its inception in 2021, SPW has grown to become one of the most influential and important annual events for the global platinum group metals (PGMs) industry due to the extensive collaboration with stakeholders across the PGMs value chain that it is built on. Last year, it attracted over 1,200 attendees from more than 400 organisations, with a further 180,000 delegates joining online.
SPW is uniquely able to leverage China’s position as the number one market for PGMs - as measured on demand - establishing a highly respected platform for serious learning, unparalleled engagement and exceptional networking opportunities.
The main focus of SPW is the China PGMs Market Summit, 9-10 July, which will feature presentations from a wide range of PGM industry leaders and innovators speaking on a variety of relevant and informative PGM-related themes, with simultaneous translation between Chinese and English.
For those outside of China, full details of the agenda and how to register for in-person attendance can be found here. Highlights from the event will be shared across social media platforms, including WPIC’s LinkedIn page, once SPW 2024 is underway.
China investment demand
SPW 2024 comes at a time of buoyant platinum investment demand in China, boosted by an increased availability of investment products, including China Gold Coin’s 10g and 100g Dragon platinum bar series and a 1 kg bar produced by Metalor.
1kg platinum bar. Picture credit: Metalor
Last year, retail investment demand in China – encompassing coins and bars under 500g – grew 37% year on year to 52 koz. At least a further 100 koz of demand came from platinum bars in the 500g to 1kg range. This year, further growth is forecast, with coin and small bar (below 500g) investment demand alone expected to reach 60 koz.
While awareness of PGMs as an investment asset is growing in China, market liquidity remains an issue for investment and industrial participants. Guangzhou Futures Exchange’s much-anticipated plans to launch platinum and palladium futures into the Chinese market, enabling domestic users of these metals to hedge price risk, will be one of the topics under discussion at SPW 2024.
