Palladium Eases After Hitting Highest Since April 2023

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Palladium hovered just below $1,560 an ounce as investors took a breather after the metal surged to its highest level since April 2023, reaching $1,665 on October 16.

Prices up roughly 34% this year, supported by unpredictable US-China trade tensions, geopolitical uncertainties, and strong market expectations of Fed rate cuts.

China has accused the US of stoking panic over rare earth export controls and rejected calls to lift restrictions, while Fed Governor Christopher Waller signaled support for another rate cut amid labor market concerns.

Politically, US President Trump and Russian President Putin agreed to another summit on the Ukraine war.

On the fundamentals, prices remain supported in the short term by strong demand from hybrid vehicle sales, especially China’s “Golden September and Silver October” peak season, alongside constrained supply, with South Africa—supplying about 30% of global palladium—reporting a 3% year-on-year decline in platinum group metal production in August.