Platinum: Movement
Why Hong Kong exports more than South Africa
What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.World trade in unwrought platinum (HS 711011) was about $10.9 billion of exports and $15.4 billion of imports in 2024. Hong Kong led exports (23.6%) ahead of South Africa (17.4%), the UK (14.3%) and Italy (8.3%). China was the largest importer (21.9%), followed by the US (12.7%), Hong Kong (12.2%), India (11.0%) and Japan (9.1%), reflecting jewellery, investment and industrial demand. Much South African metal passes through London and Zurich vaults and European refiners before reaching users. US imports jumped to 99,000 kg in 2025. South Africa's power grid, rail and ports are the practical chokepoints.
Main trade routes, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.