China’s Thirst for Platinum a Risk to Trump’s Auto Plan, Analysts Say

Platinum is needed for cars, weapons, and electronics, but the biggest U.S. supplier—South Africa—is tied to Beijing and on bad terms with Trump administration.

The Impala Platinum mine shaft 11, near Rustenburg, South Africa, on Nov. 28, 2023. Implats via AP Photo

JOHANNESBURG—U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to rejuvenate the U.S. auto industry is threatened by China’s sudden thirst for platinum, a precious metal that’s largely irreplaceable in modern-day vehicle manufacturing, according to experts.

The risk to U.S. supplies of platinum is heightened by Washington’s fragile relations with South Africa, whose mines produce 80 percent of global platinum supplies, according to mining information service Africa Mining IQ.