The World Bank has reported that platinum prices retreated sharply from record nominal highs reached in January 2026, declining by approximately 27 percent through June, according to the latest commodity market data published by the institution’s Prospects Group.
Platinum prices surged to all-time nominal highs in the first month of the year before entering a sustained downturn over the subsequent five months. The World Bank attributes the price correction to improved mine and recycling supply, which eased earlier concerns about physical shortages that had driven the initial rally. Weaker investment demand and profit-taking following the strong first-quarter performance also contributed significantly to the downward price movement.
According to the World Bank data, jewelry demand for platinum is expected to soften, with first-half 2026 prices running almost 62 percent above the 2025 full-year average. Automotive demand, which represents the largest end-use segment for platinum, faces additional headwinds as industrial producers increasingly substitute lower-cost palladium in catalytic converters.
On the supply side, the World Bank projects only a modest increase in overall platinum supply for 2026, with mine output remaining broadly stable while recycling volumes rise as elevated prices encourage additional scrap flows. Despite the price correction, the market is expected to remain in deficit through the end of 2026, drawing down above-ground inventories further.
Industrial demand for platinum is expected to recover in 2026 after a sharp contraction in 2025, providing some offset to weakness in the jewelry and automotive segments. The World Bank projects platinum prices will average approximately 53 percent higher for the full year 2026 compared with 2025, before declining by roughly 13 percent in 2027 as market conditions normalize.
Separately, the International Monetary Fund reported that the SDR interest rate stood at 2.799 percent as of June 26, 2026, with one United States dollar equivalent to SDR 0.737384. The SDR rate serves as a benchmark for the IMF’s lending operations and reflects conditions in major global financial markets.
The IMF also completed several country program reviews in late June. The institution completed the third review under the Extended Credit Facility arrangement and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility arrangement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, noting that economic activity remained resilient in 2025 with inflation declining sharply to 2.5 percent at end-April 2026 following the appreciation of the Congolese franc.
Additionally, the IMF Executive Board concluded the 2026 Article IV consultation with Burkina Faso and completed the fifth review under its ECF arrangement, alongside the first review under the RSF. The Fund also released a staff concluding statement for Mongolia’s 2026 Article IV mission, underscoring the breadth of the institution’s ongoing surveillance and program engagement across emerging and developing economies.
The World Bank, meanwhile, continues to track commodity price developments closely, with the precious metals data offering insights into shifting supply-demand dynamics and broader global economic conditions affecting industrial and investment markets.
Sources: imf.org/worldbank.org
