Social
Palladium is a precious metal used almost entirely for one purpose: catalytic converters in gasoline vehicles.
Key factors in play: Palladium's price has declined as its main use case shrinks. Automakers have been shifting to EVs, which don't need catalytic converters, and substituting cheaper platinum where they can. That's pushed demand down over time, and some forecasters, including the WPIC and Heraeus, expect a market surplus. On the supply side, a large share of palladium comes from Russia and South Africa, so sanctions or mining disruptions in either country can affect the price.
What to watch: Tariff and sanctions news, auto sales data, and Federal Reserve meetings.