This list reveals the top 10 platinum importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world platinum imports totaled US$27.5 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $26.8 million worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. South Africa: $18.5 million
2. Algeria: $7.4 million
3. Egypt: $291,000
4. Mauritius: $237,000
5. Kenya: $232,000
6. Morocco: $39,000
7. Tunisia: $26,000
8. Côte d'Ivoire: $15,000
9. Zimbabwe: $9,000
10. Senegal: $7,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $9.1 billion worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. Japan: $2.8 billion
2. China: $2.7 billion
3. Hong Kong: $2.5 billion
4. South Korea: $392.3 million
5. Singapore: $267.9 million
6. India: $180.7 million
7. Taiwan: $152.9 million
8. Malaysia: $114 million
9. Thailand: $40.3 million
10. Vietnam: $11.3 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $7.1 billion worth of platinum led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $2.8 billion
2. United Kingdom: $2.3 billion
3. Italy: $1.3 billion
4. Ireland: $185.4 million
5. France: $117.8 million
6. Austria: $117.7 million
7. Poland: $74.5 million
8. Spain: $43.9 million
9. Slovakia: $39.7 million
10. Portugal: $39 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $212.8 million worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $156.3 million
2. Argentina: $45.7 million
3. Costa Rica: $8.6 million
4. Cayman Islands: $1.3 million
5. Dominican Republic: $471,000
6. Uruguay: $142,000
7. Chile: $73,000
8. Colombia: $44,000
9. Panama: $43,000
10. Guatemala: $37,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $45.8 million worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $35.7 million
2. Israel: $3.2 million
3. Oman: $2.5 million
4. Saudi Arabia: $2 million
5. Bahrain: $1.1 million
6. Qatar: $424,000
7. Iran: $400,000
8. Lebanon: $257,000
9. Kuwait: $134,000
North American Importers
North America imported $3.5 billion worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. United States: $3.3 billion
2. Canada: $265.5 million
3. Mexico: $10.9 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $33.7 million worth of platinum led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $30.9 million
2. New Zealand: $2.8 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $32,000
4. New Caledonia: $7,000
5. Micronesia: $3,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing platinum importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported platinum was -4.9%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Platinum Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Platinum Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.