SITCSection 2

Platinum Waste and Scrap

Name: Platinum Waste and Scrap (SITC 28921) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 28921Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $197.5M; YTD $1.3B

U.S. exports · July 2026: $75.3M

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U.S. imports of platinum waste and scrap (SITC 28921) totaled $197.5M in July 2026, traded with 51 countries.

Platinum Waste and Scrap imports of $197.5M in July 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $179.4M.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Platinum scrap — including spent autocatalysts, laboratory crucibles, thermocouple wire, and metal clad with platinum — is a high-value secondary stream that feeds platinum group metal refiners supplying the automotive, chemical, and jewelry sectors. The explicit exclusion of sweepings containing other precious metals reflects the need to separate platinum-dominant material from mixed PGM residues classified elsewhere. Given platinum's price volatility and the capital intensity of refining, offtake contracts for platinum scrap typically include price-fixing mechanisms tied to London Platinum and Palladium Market (LPPM) quotations. Importers should maintain detailed records of the scrap's origin and processing history to support both customs valuation and chain-of-custody requirements at the refinery.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.

184 shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$197.5MYoY · Pro

Exports

$75.3MYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$197.5M$0

June 2025December 2025July 2026

Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Suppliers

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Basic heading 3 of 239 in section 2

Share of section 2 imports5%

Basic heading 28921 · $197.5M of $3.8B

Where it comes from, where it lands, what it pays

Imports · July 2026

Countries

origin

Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico together supply 49% of it.

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Districts

customs district

Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.

States

destination

Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.

Ports

entry

Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are sweepings containing mixed precious metals excluded from this platinum scrap category?

Sweepings — fine dusts and residues collected from jewelry workshops, refinery floors, or industrial facilities — typically contain a blend of platinum, palladium, gold, and silver that cannot be attributed predominantly to platinum. They are classified under the separate 'precious metal scrap NES' heading to reflect their mixed composition. Misclassifying sweepings as platinum scrap can result in incorrect duty treatment and valuation disputes, since the payable metal mix differs significantly.

What documentation do platinum refiners require from importers of spent autocatalysts?

Refiners typically require a sampling and assay report confirming platinum, palladium, and rhodium content; a certificate of origin or chain-of-custody declaration; and evidence that the material is genuine spent catalyst rather than new or off-spec catalyst (which would be classified differently). Some refiners also require a declaration that the material has not been adulterated or diluted, as fraud involving artificially reduced PGM content is a known risk in the secondary catalyst market.