Stock Market News in real time

Trackinsight: Palladium ETFs witness positive inflows this year despite performance plunge

December 15, 2021 at 10:30 am EST

The silvery white metal failed to live up to its "precious" status among investors in 2021, having lost more than a third of its value.

Palladium ETFs garnered good investor interest this year with over $150 million in net inflows. However, the silvery white metal failed to live up to its "precious" status among investors in 2021, having lost more than a third of its value (Mar'22 Futures PAH2). The plunge dragged down 12 ETFs tracking the metal with an average of -25% (excluding leveraged ETFs).

More than half of global palladium consumption goes into cars' catalytic converters every year. Palladium helps remove hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and other harmful gases from exhaust emission. Palladium is also used by jewellers, industries such as glassmakers and for investment.

Despite the huge rally witnessed in other commodities this year, Palladium lagged after demand from automakers faded following a global semiconductor shortage. According to the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC), the global platinum market would see a much larger surplus this year than it previously forecast and another big oversupply in 2022. In the third quarter of this year alone, the platinum market was oversupplied by 592,000 ounces, the biggest quarterly surplus since at least 2013.

The trade imbalance took a toll on Palladium prices, now trading at $1,585 per ounce (PAH2), compared to a 52-week high of $3,019 per ounce reached in May 2021. Investors betting on the resurgence of the metal can check out some of the Palladium ETFs, including Aberdeen Standard Physical Palladium Shares ETF (PALL), WisdomTree Physical Palladium ETC (PHPD) and ZKB Palladium ETF AA CHF (ZPAL).

Are you an ETF investor? Your opinion matters: Answer the Trackinsight Global ETF Survey 2022.

Find and compare over 8,000 ETFs with our free tools:?