Platinum and palladium belong to the platinum-group metals. Both are traded as precious metals and used in industrial applications, but their prices represent separate markets. A family resemblance does not make one a substitute for the other in every product.
Read the unit and purity
Precious-metal quotations commonly use troy ounces. Industrial transactions specify the material and acceptable quality. A finished component or recovered catalyst contains more than its recoverable precious-metal value, and estimating that value requires information about composition and recovery costs.
Industrial demand matters
Automotive catalysts are an important application, alongside other industrial uses. Different catalyst systems can use different mixes of metals. Changing a design or production process is not an instantaneous response to a price difference. Treat a simple relative-price chart, such as our platinum vs palladium comparison, as a description of market values rather than proof of immediate substitution.
Our coverage is deliberately explicit
The World Bank monthly dataset provides the platinum history used on this site. It does not provide our palladium history. The palladium page uses price-chart.com daily reference observations, with monthly means calculated from the available daily observations. We do not manufacture a palladium curve or substitute platinum observations under another label.
Comparing physical offers
Match fine weight, form, purity, currency, delivery and the observation time. Dealer spreads and fabrication charges can differ between products. A historical monthly reference can help establish context, but it is not an executable quote for a bar, coin or scrap component.
See the platinum chart and data methodology for current coverage and source details.
Test yourself. Check what you learned with the precious metals essentials quiz: 5 quick questions, each with a short explanation.
Sources & further reading
Educational reference. How we create and review our content.
