Russia and South Africa produce roughly three-quarters of the world's palladium. What palladium is, what it powers, and why its supply is a chokepoint.
Last updated: October 2026
Palladium is a silvery-white platinum-group metal, rarer than gold, recovered mostly from nickel and platinum mines in Russia and South Africa. Russia and South Africa together produce roughly three-quarters of world mine output, and palladium's fate is tied to one product: the catalytic converter.
| # | Country | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | ~40% |
| 2 | South Africa | ~38% |
| 3 | Canada | ~8% |
| 4 | United States | ~5% |
| 5 | Zimbabwe | ~4% |
Mine production shares, 2024 (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025). Shares are approximate; platinum-group metals are reported together in some jurisdictions.
Palladium is a platinum-group metal: silvery-white, ductile, and the most effective known catalyst for converting toxic exhaust gases. It is rarer than gold, occurs mainly as a byproduct of nickel and platinum mining, and has no dedicated palladium mines of scale.
Catalytic converters take roughly 80% of palladium demand, cleaning petrol-engine exhaust. The rest goes to electronics (multilayer ceramic capacitors, connectors), dentistry, jewellery, hydrogen purification, and chemical catalysts.
Russia, with roughly 40% of world mine production (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025), from Norilsk Nickel's Siberian operations. South Africa is a close second at roughly 38%, from the Bushveld Complex.
China produces little palladium — well under 5% of world mine output — but it is one of the largest consumers, through its vehicle and electronics industries. Chinese firms have invested in overseas platinum-group assets to secure supply.
High. Russia and South Africa together hold roughly three-quarters of mine supply. South African output is constrained by power and water problems at Bushveld mines, and Russian supply carries sanctions risk. The United States is import-reliant. The long-run escape is electrification: battery vehicles need no catalytic converters.
Palladium is a platinum-group metal rarer than gold. Russia and South Africa produce roughly three-quarters of world mine output, mostly for catalytic converters, which take about 80% of demand. With supply concentrated in two countries and no easy substitute in petrol catalysts, palladium prices have spiked on every Russia supply scare since 2022.
Palladium is a platinum-group metal: silvery-white, ductile, and the most effective known catalyst for converting toxic exhaust gases. It is rarer than gold, occurs mainly as a byproduct of nickel and platinum mining, and has no dedicated palladium mines of scale.
Catalytic converters take roughly 80% of palladium demand, cleaning petrol-engine exhaust. The rest goes to electronics (multilayer ceramic capacitors, connectors), dentistry, jewellery, hydrogen purification, and chemical catalysts.
Russia, with roughly 40% of world mine production (USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025), from Norilsk Nickel's Siberian operations. South Africa is a close second at roughly 38%, from the Bushveld Complex.
