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Where does Japan get its platinum-group metals? Import sources 2024

In 2024, Japan imported $5.3 billion of platinum-group metals (131 tonnes), 11.5% of the world total. South Africa sold 72% of the total, followed by Russia (7%) and Germany (5%). Japan was the world’s 3rd-largest importer of platinum-group metals.

Summary

Value
$5.3billion
Tonnes
131tonnes
Share of world total
11.5%
World rank
3rd
Routes from the main sources. Width: value; color: estimated transport mode.SeaAirLand

Sources

The 20 main sources in the latest year.

PartnerValue (USD billions)TonnesUSD per tonneShareMode
South Africa3.8Tonnes: 91USD per tonne: $41,267,73271.9%Air
Russia0.39Tonnes: 12USD per tonne: $32,296,7407.5%Air
Germany0.26Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $78,652,8994.9%Air
United States0.19Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $56,655,4643.7%Air
Hong Kong re-exports0.15Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $46,872,0152.9%Air
United Kingdom0.09Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $28,279,2351.8%Air
Belgium re-exports0.09Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $36,720,7531.8%Air
Taiwan0.08Tonnes: 3USD per tonne: $26,393,0221.6%Air
Italy0.07Tonnes: 2USD per tonne: $37,368,8681.4%Air
South Korea0.05Tonnes: 2USD per tonne: $32,748,1301%Air
Switzerland0.05Tonnes: 2USD per tonne: $31,294,2660.95%Air
Norway0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $31,929,0750.27%Air
Malaysia0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $27,253,4120.19%Air
Turkey< 0.01Tonnes: 2USD per tonne: $1,132,1240.04%Air
Thailand< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $30,310,3890.04%Air
Ireland< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $65,380,0480.03%Air
Philippines< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $10,144,7960.02%Air
Singapore re-exports< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $1,429,0510.01%Air
Australia< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $18,591,4120.01%Air
India< 0.01Tonnes: 0USD per tonne: $89,106,3330.01%Air

Trend

Who it buys from

South Africa has been its main source since 1997

Value in USD billions. The five largest sources in 2024.

  • South Africa 3.8
  • Russia 0.39
  • Germany 0.26
  • United States 0.19
  • Hong Kong 0.15

Source: CEPII BACI

Show the numbers
Partner19952024
South Africa0.493.8
Russia0.720.39
Germany0.050.26
United States0.110.19
Hong Kong< 0.010.15

Sources and methodology

Sources and licenses

Methodology

Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), which reconciles what exporters and importers report: countries that stopped reporting (Russia since 2022) appear with their partners’ data. FOB values in current US dollars; tonnes when BACI reports them. The price per tonne is the value of the rows with a weight divided by that weight. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Data up to 2024.

Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium re-export goods from other countries: their figures include transit.

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