According to Johnson Mattey, the automotive industry in the world consumed 25 percent of platinum last year than in 2000, and this trend will remain in 2002. The annual demand for platinum in the car industry is about 40 tons. In addition, fuel elements are used not only in cars, but also in cell phones. And in December 2001, the Boeing airline introduced a plane on the fuel cells, so in the future the platinoid sales market can grow. Norilsk Nickel continues to carry out actions aimed at differentiation of its business: it has recently been information that the company has acquired almost nine percent of the authorized capital of the Yenisei River Shipping Company OJSC. Recall that in October 2001, the Norilsk Nickel GMC already bought 48 percent of the shares of this company. As for the shares of the Norilsk Nickel GMC, then in the second decade of January they fell by 10 percent. This is a direct consequence of the company’s management statement about a half -year refusal of export of Palladium. However, as analysts believe, due to the fact that the statement was recently disavowed, the exchange rate of the Norilsk Nickel shares in the near future should increase.
