# Platinum: Movement

Why Hong Kong exports more than South Africa

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/movement/

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.

#### Platinum, unwrought · HS 711011
 World exports 2024 $10.9 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $15.4 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Hong Kong 23.6% South Africa 17.4% United Kingdom 14.3% Italy 8.3% United States 7.2% Japan 4.9% Top importers, share of value China 21.9% United States 12.7% Hong Kong 12.2% India 11% Japan 9.1% United Kingdom 7% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/trading/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/links/index.md)