Stricter emissions laws boost platinum demand because they force car makers to use more of this metal in devices that clean up exhaust fumes from engines.
Platinum sits at the heart of catalytic converters, the parts in cars and trucks that turn nasty pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons into harmless gases.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market These converters grab about 37 percent of all platinum used worldwide, mostly in vehicles.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market When governments tighten rules on tailpipe emissions, builders of cars and heavy trucks must pack in more platinum to meet the new limits. For example, the US Environmental Protection Agency now demands passenger cars hit 55 miles per gallon by 2025, up from 38 miles today, pushing for better converters.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market
In China, the China 6 standards for big diesel trucks require filters that cut particulate matter by 82 percent and NOx by 86 percent by 2030, all relying on platinum.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market Europe, India, and others follow suit with rules like Euro-6 and new tractor emission regimes starting in 2026, all hiking the need for platinum in diesel and heavy-duty engines.https://www.litefinance.org/blog/analysts-opinions/platinum-price-prediction-and-forecast/https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/platinum-price-forecast-gold-rotation-fuels-platinum-breakout-toward-2300-by-2026-1567402https://platinuminvestment.com/files/954835/WPIC_Platinum_Quarterly_Q3_2025.pdf Even the European Union’s recent shift away from a full 2035 ban on gas engines opens the door for hybrids, which often need extra platinum due to their unique engine cycles.https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-platinum-singularity-how-the
Car makers also swap in more platinum for pricier palladium to save costs while hitting these tough standards, a trend seen in the US and China.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market Platinum’s special traits make it hard to replace; it sparks reactions that scrub emissions better than other options under strict rules.https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market Beyond cars, these laws nudge factories and other sectors toward platinum catalysts to cut waste and meet green mandates.https://www.24chemicalresearch.com/blog/18067/platinum-sponge-market-top-trends-shaping
Supply struggles add to the pressure. Recycling lags due to fewer old cars scrapped and tighter rules on scrap handling, while mine output stays flat.https://shanakaanslemperera.substack.com/p/the-platinum-singularity-how-thehttps://www.sprott.com/precious-metals-watch/ Platinum demand in autos jumped from 2.77 million ounces in 2022 to 3.21 million in 2023, with more growth ahead from these regulations.https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/platinum-price-forecast-gold-rotation-fuels-platinum-breakout-toward-2300-by-2026-1567402 Hydrogen tech, tied to clean energy pushes, taps platinum too for fuel cells and electrolysers.https://www.litefinance.org/blog/analysts-opinions/platinum-price-prediction-and-forecast/https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/platinum-price-forecast-gold-rotation-fuels-platinum-breakout-toward-2300-by-2026-1567402
Sources
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/platinum-market