Increasing Demand for Platinum1 Feb 2013 22:49
For starters, the demand for platinum is much more broad-based than for gold, which is supported primarily by investment demand and jewelry manufacturing.
Platinum shares both those markets, and is actually more sought-after for fine jewelry these days. That’s because of its rarity and hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant properties, as well as the fact that diamonds and other precious stones appear much more brilliant in platinum settings than in gold.
However, platinum is also vital in a number of other capacities.
The most important use of platinum is as a catalyst in automotive converter systems, which turn deadly carbon monoxide and other dangerous exhaust-gas emissions into harmless carbon dioxide and water.
Currently, almost half of the newly produced platinum each year goes for this purpose, and that demand will rise sharply as the global economy continues to improve and more and more nations address environmental issues (witness China’s recent air-quality crisis) by imposing tougher emission standards.
The same catalytic properties also make platinum an essential ingredient in petroleum refining, helping to produce cleaner-burning gasoline and high-octane fuels from crude oil via the so-called “cracking” process.
Environmental concerns are also steadily increasing worldwide demand for fuel cells, which create electrical energy from hydrogen and oxygen, most often using platinum in a filtration system known as a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). Originally designed for autos, fuels cells are now used in place of generators in many new buildings and as power sources for a variety of portable equipment, reducing the need for batteries.
Finally, computer manufacturers are using more and more platinum, which is used in an alloy with cobalt to greatly increase both the storage capacity and operating efficiency of hard drives and compact storage discs
http://etfdailynews.com/2013/02/01/increasing-demand-for-platinum-how-to-play-this-precious-metals-leader-pplt-swc-nilsy/
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