At times like this, gold and silver typically grab all the attention... and attract all the "safe" money. But there's another metal that could blast past both of these, virtually overnight.
That's because it has unique physical properties for which there is just no substitute - something its biggest consumers lose quite a bit of sleep over.
It's 15 times more rare than platinum... and 30 times more rare than gold.
And, as you'll see in the chart below, it hasn't been this attractive in 13 years.
We're looking at a 70% gain on this one - perhaps more - no matter how far Washington kicks the "debt can" down the road.
At current prices, it could even double...
Even when the government isn't on the brink of financial suicide, palladium is in heavy - and growing - demand.
It's found in everything from jewelry to dental equipment, including a wide range of electronics.
Tablets, flat screen TVs, iPhones, iPods, iPads, iEverythings...
They all require palladium.
Electronics represent 12% of gross palladium demand.
For perspective, there were 5.4 billion cell phones on the planet in 2009. By the end of this year, estimates are that there will be 8 billion. It's going to take a lot of palladium for the world to keep talking, texting, and tweeting.
But its most significant use is in the automotive industry, where fully two-thirds, or 67%, of all palladium is consumed each and every year.
That's because palladium is found in virtually every single gas-powered vehicle's pollution-controlling catalytic converter.
Global light vehicle production has been on a tear in the last few years, with no signs of abating. 2011 saw 77 million light vehicles produced, 2012 saw 81 million and 2013 had 85 million units produced. By 2017, IHS Automotive forecasts production of 102 million units.
By 2018, China alone will likely be manufacturing and buying about 31 million vehicles annually.
Developed and developing economies alike have adopted increasingly stringent emission control standards, boosting the need for palladium.
There's little doubt, we're going to need a whole lot more of this specialized metal.
But it's not going to be easy to get...
Editor's Note: A CIA economist has just leaked the Fed's knowledge of a 25-year depression and what could lead to a $100 trillion American meltdown. To see the evidence, click here.
What's crucial to understand about palladium supply is where the metal is actually sourced.
Only about 6.5 million ounces of palladium are produced annually. Recycling, plus sales from a Russian stockpile, supplies the rest, to reach a total 9.8 million ounces each year.
Russia is responsible for fully 44% of the 6.5 million produced ounces and South Africa for 36%.But both of these suppliers face serious output challenges.
Norilsk Nickel is responsible for all of Russia's mined production as a byproduct of nickel production. But Russia's mined supply has been dwindling, and active mines have seen declining ore grades.
What's more, only two years ago 775,000 ounces came to market from Russia's state repository, Gokhran. That was about 8% of world supply. Last year, that number had dropped by 68% to 250,000 ounces. Industry insiders figure those stockpiles may now be totally exhausted, but officially no one can say for sure; Gokhran's contents are a state secret.
For its part, South African supply is even more challenged.
Palladium is produced there as a byproduct of platinum. Numerous South African platinum producers are facing such high costs that they no longer turn a profit. Mines are deeper, power and water are sparse, labor costs are rising, political risks are growing, and work strikes and other stoppages all add up to declining output.
That leaves 14% of mined palladium supply contributed by North America and 6% from a few small players sprinkled across Africa, Australia, China, and the former Yugoslavia.
In 2012 global production of Palladium reached its lowest point since 2002, suffering a deficit of 1.07 million ounces.
The palladium supply deficit is expected to last until 2017. The ever-dwindling supply of palladium isn't going entirely unnoticed, of course...
I recently interviewed a mining executive whose company is a primary palladium producer.
He concurred that the fundamentals for palladium demand - thanks to pressure from pollution control and car sales - are very supportive. He also confirmed that Russian and South African supplies face real headwinds.
Morgan Stanley has recently said, "We expect an ongoing and sizable structural deficit in palladium supported by an increase in net auto catalytic converter demand as gross demand from strong vehicle growth and tightening emission standards outpaces recycled palladium supply, especially in China."
Besides the deteriorating supply and expanding demand factors I've outlined, there are two other catalysts that are primed to ignite palladium prices ahead.
The first is physical, or investment, demand. Since 2007 physically backed palladium ETFs have grown to include 11 such investment vehicles, absorbing nearly 2.2 million ounces from global supply, up from 1.9 million at the outset of 2013. Johnson Matthey has indicated that so far this year palladium ETFs have acquired 339,000 ounces of palladium, on pace to surpass 2012's 385,000 ounces. And this trend is in motion.
Now a 12th palladium ETF is in the offing, which could be trading on South Africa's Johannesburg Stock Exchange by year's end.
An immensely successful platinum ETF that began trading there earlier this year has already soaked up 685,000 ounces, representing fully 30% of worldwide ETF holdings. The new palladium offering could well be Act II, further exacerbating the market's persistent shortfall.
Yet another bullish factor for palladium prices is something intriguing that's happening in the futures market.
As you can see in the chart at right, the eight largest futures traders are short 127 days of world palladium production. That's at a 13-year high, and it's more than any precious metal, and more than all other major commodities.
If the palladium price should suddenly rise significantly, those traders would likely be forced to quickly cover their massive short positions.
That could lead to a violent rally in the price of palladium, as they would have to buy long contracts to offset their shorts.
And get this...
Norilsk, the world's largest palladium producer, also expects a 1 million ounce deficit this year and has repeated their stance that Gokhran is drained of its palladium stockpile, unable to contribute to the market going forward.
The pricing estimates reflect that shortfall, too.
Palladium is currently trading around $735 per ounce. The average of analysts' forecasts pegs this year's price at $829, and $909 two years out. The most optimistic of these projections sees palladium averaging $1,200 in 2015.
Investors can play palladium's rise by buying ETFS Physical Palladium Shares (NYSE: PALL). This is a simple, secure, and efficient way to invest in palladium.
Extremely bullish supply and demand fundamentals, impending growth in investment demand - and the futures "wild card" all point to palladium prices heading up fast, a lot faster than most analysts expect.
Editor's Note: The fuse has been lit on the global "debt bomb." Our research shows it could explode in 2015. Evidence of this coming crash - and the steps you need to take now - are detailed in this just-released presentation.
