Why Sell Your Palladium with GoldTrust?
Palladium is among the rarest precious metals on earth, and one of the least understood outside specialist circles. That gap between rarity and recognition is exactly where sellers get shortchanged. We know what palladium bullion is worth, and we pay that, in front of you, before we leave.
GoldTrust is a licensed second-hand goods dealer, registered high-value goods dealer, accountable institution, and Jewellery Council of South Africa member.
Our process is appointment-only. No queues, no walk-in counters, no waiting rooms with strangers. You book a time that suits you, you arrive at a private office, and we work through your items together. We test and weigh every piece while you watch every step. We explain the offer before you decide anything. If you accept, instant EFT hits your account during the appointment. Not at end of day. Not the following morning. During.
If the offer does not work for you, we shake hands and you leave with your palladium. No fee, no obligation, no awkward exit. Palladium sitting in a safe is doing nothing for you. Whether you are converting it to fund a holiday, a car deposit, or simply want to know what it is worth without committing to sell, we make the process as straightforward as it should be. Find out how it works step by step.
Palladium Items We Buy
GoldTrust buys the following palladium items, tested and weighed in front of you, with the offer explained before you decide anything:
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Palladium Coins. Canadian Palladium Maple Leafs, Russian Ballerina coins, and other recognised palladium bullion coins. Both proof and standard bullion strikes accepted.
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Palladium Bars and Ingots. All sizes from 1 gram to 1 kilogram. Branded bars from recognised refineries as well as unbranded bars, which we test and verify in front of you before making any offer.
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Palladium Bullion. Any form of investment-grade palladium at 999 or 999.5 fineness, assessed honestly by a specialist buyer.
A practical note: palladium is often mistaken for platinum or white gold, and the reverse is also true. White gold, silver, and platinum are all visually similar to palladium. We test everything in front of you and tell you exactly what you have, including items that turn out to be a different metal altogether. You will never leave not knowing what you brought. If it is not worth selling, we say so. If it is, we make you a fair offer.
If you also hold platinum coins or bars, we buy those too and can assess both in a single appointment.
What Makes Your Palladium Valuable
Whether it is a coin you bought as an investment years ago or a bar you have not thought about since you acquired it, your palladium has real, measurable value. Here is why you can trust the number we give you.
Every item is tested and weighed in front of you. You watch every step. We show you the weight as it reads on the scale, we test the purity, and we explain what each result means in plain language. Nothing happens behind closed doors. Nothing is taken to another room. If you want to see anything repeated, we do it again.
Purity and weight are the two factors that matter most, and both are intuitive: higher purity and more weight mean more value. Investment-grade palladium bars and coins are produced to 999.5 fineness, 99.95% pure palladium, and that purity is verifiable. We verify it while you watch.
The price we quote is the price you receive. No hidden deductions, no processing fees, no administrative costs subtracted at the end. Every valuation depends on the specific item, its fineness, and its weight, so we cannot give an accurate figure without seeing it. Contact us via the form, WhatsApp, or phone and we will arrange a free, no-obligation appointment.
What Affects Palladium Prices in South Africa?
Palladium is priced globally in US dollars per troy ounce, and its price is more volatile than almost any other precious metal. Understanding why the number moves helps you know what you are dealing with. Here are the primary forces at work.
- The international palladium spot price. Quoted in US dollars per troy ounce, this is the benchmark used by refineries, industrial buyers, and investors worldwide. Palladium has historically been among the most price-sensitive of the platinum-group metals, capable of large moves in short periods in response to supply or demand signals.
- The USD/ZAR exchange rate. Because palladium is priced internationally in US dollars, the rand value of any given quantity of palladium moves with the currency as well as with the underlying dollar price. A weaker rand lifts the rand figure; a stronger rand reduces it.
- Automotive catalytic converter demand. The single largest use of palladium is in catalytic converters for petrol-engine vehicles. Petrol engines predominantly use palladium rather than platinum in their converters, which is the inverse of diesel engines. Tightening global emissions standards have historically pushed palladium demand sharply higher; the long-term transition toward electric vehicles, which do not use catalytic converters, is the structural headwind the market is working through.
- Russian and South African mining supply. Russia and South Africa together account for the majority of the world’s mined palladium supply. Russia is the single largest source. Disruptions to either country’s supply, whether political, operational, or logistical, can move the global price materially. South Africa’s palladium is mined alongside platinum in the Bushveld Complex, so conditions affecting SA platinum mines also affect SA palladium supply.
- Substitution pressure between platinum and palladium. Palladium and platinum are interchangeable, with some engineering effort, in catalytic converter applications. When palladium became significantly more expensive than platinum over a period in the late 2010s and early 2020s, automotive manufacturers began investing in thrifting palladium out of their converter designs and substituting platinum. That substitution effect has contributed to easing palladium demand relative to earlier cycles.
- Industrial and electronics demand. Beyond automotive, palladium is used in electronics (multilayer ceramic capacitors), dentistry, and certain chemical refining processes. These uses are smaller than automotive but contribute to baseline demand.
We don’t advise when to sell. That is your decision. What we can tell you is that when you are ready, every item is tested and weighed in front of you, every offer is explained before you decide, and the price quoted is the price that hits your account via instant EFT.
Understanding Palladium Purity
Palladium purity is measured using a fineness system, counting parts of palladium per thousand. Investment-grade palladium bars and coins are produced to a fineness of 999 or 999.5, meaning 99.9% to 99.95% pure palladium. This is the standard for all major palladium bullion products.
Unlike gold, which uses the karat system, palladium uses numerical fineness stamps directly. Here is a quick reference for the marks you are likely to encounter on bullion products:
| Fineness Mark | Palladium Content | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 999.5 | 99.95% pure | Investment bullion coins (e.g., Canadian Maple Leaf) |
| 999 | 99.9% pure | Investment bars, most refined palladium bullion |
How to Find the Fineness Stamp on Your Palladium
Most palladium bullion items carry a fineness stamp, but its location varies by product type:
- Bars. The fineness is typically engraved or stamped on the face of the bar, alongside the weight and the refinery mark. Branded bars from major refineries also carry a serial number.
- Coins. Recognised palladium bullion coins state their purity and weight on the coin itself. The Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, for example, is marked .9995 Fine Palladium on the face.
- Unlabelled or unfamiliar items. If there is no visible stamp, or if you are not sure what you have, we test the item in front of you. Palladium testing requires specialist equipment that not all buyers carry. We carry it.
Palladium and the Platinum-Group Metals: South Africa’s Position
Palladium belongs to the platinum-group metals (PGMs), a family of six chemically similar elements that are among the rarest on earth. South Africa’s Bushveld Igneous Complex, the same geological formation that makes SA the world’s dominant platinum producer, also yields significant palladium output alongside platinum.
This matters practically: SA buyers and refiners are well-versed in the full PGM family. When you sell palladium to GoldTrust, you are dealing with a buyer who works in one of the few markets in the world where PGM expertise is concentrated.
If you also hold platinum bullion or are curious about selling gold, GoldTrust buys all three precious metals and can assess them in a single appointment. Our private offices serve clients across Gauteng, including Sandton, Pretoria, Centurion, Boksburg, Cresta, and Bedfordview. We also serve Umhlanga, Cape Town, and George .
Frequently Asked Questions
