Investors
Selected experience
Trusted advisors for investors and traders
For the investment sector, SFA (Oxford) provides critical metals intelligence for global investment banks, funds, commodity trading houses, institutional and private investors and family wealth offices, and has completed comprehensive global due diligence appraisals on behalf of investors. SFA’s tailored Board-level Market Intelligence Briefings provide executive management with in-depth, forward-looking intelligence covering the current and future trends and influences acting on global commodities – information essential for future business planning and strategic decision-making. Our reports are often delivered to coincide with scheduled Board meetings and reporting requirements, providing management with a concise digest of all the key industry facts, figures and forecasts.
Case studies
Analysis of the unique properties of platinum
Platinum application showcases
An analysis was carried out of the unique properties of the metal and its value-adding contribution to the processes and reactions required for many mission-critical, high-performance, and everyday products.
Debt finance
Industry and market analysis for global investment banks
SFA (Oxford) has completed PGM industry analysis and market intelligence for global investment banks that provide debt finance to mining companies.
Long-term market intelligence for nickel, cobalt, lithium
Equilateral thinking
SFA (Oxford) produced long-term forecasts and detailed market analytics for the three primary battery metals, nickel, cobalt and lithium. Independent supply and demand market balances and price forecasts to highlight the changing evolution of battery technologies, market consumption, substitution and recycling threats across the different end-use markets.
Development of mineral rights portfolios
Global investment appraisal
Comprehensive strategic appraisals of global exploration projects have been completed by SFA (Oxford) on behalf of an investor.
Enhanced Investment Memorandum
Linking the use of PGMs in strategic applications with favourable investment returns
SFA (Oxford) assisted in the production of an Investment Memorandum (IM) for a client, providing clear insight into the benefits of PGM, how the use of PGM in innovative new technologies is rising.
Quarterly strategic reviews and outlook for lithium, nickel and cobalt
Regular battery metal market price risk intelligence
Major carmakers, investors and suppliers use the SFA (Oxford) team to track the rapidly evolving nature of government policy, electric vehicle (EV) roll-out plans, the battery industry value chain, and key market players to provide up-to-date risks to metal markets and prices.
Quarterly assessments track changes to the evolution of battery chemistries and cathode developments, commercialisation timing, regional appraisal of battery supply chain forces, battery plant investments, OEM EV and hybrid roll-out successes, risks to new EV products and OEM companies, developments in EV infrastructure, evolving changes in the hydrogen economy and the fuel cell market, latest metal supply chain developments, project supply forecasts, technological breakthroughs, battery-grade metal supply risks, China's dominance on intermediates and battery precursor materials, and a five-year price outlook
PGM: Joining the dots between metal flows and price setting
The real world of PGM pricing
The PGM: Joining the dots between metal flows and price-setting report contains unrivalled insight, with over 300 pages of detailed analysis, commentary and charts providing unique exploration of the purchasing dynamics between market participants, the complexity of the associated price web and which factors drive metal prices for platinum, palladium and rhodium.
Gold marketing intelligence
Gold cost study
SFA (Oxford) provided gold market intelligence to hedge funds on a quarterly basis, including macroeconomic developments, price forecasts, and market fundamentals. SFA’s analysts have managed databases, researching and compiling detailed production and cost data on over 340 gold mines and projects.
Contextualising prospects for the hydrogen economy — for a Family Wealth Office
Hydrogen market assessment
A market evaluation including assessing how technology shifts, legislative changes, and environmental issues will impact markets, and evaluation of niche applications in new end-uses and the long-term sustainability of these applications.
Nickel and copper due diligence in Eurasia
Evaluation for acquisition
Conducted a three-month on-site due diligence of a major nickel-copper mine cluster and processing complex.
Solutions for investors
SFA offers a broad spectrum of services for investors in PGMs, battery metals and materials, green hydrogen and fuel cells, applying our strategic focus and bespoke approach to meet your needs.
Due diligence studies and PGM commercial advisory
Working with clients and third parties, SFA has a long track record of providing technical due diligence and financial modelling support to help secure funding.
PGM mergers, acquisitions, and corporate defence
Clients have used SFA to provide the analytical link with banks and financial institutions to support PGM investment decision-making and provide market support.
Covid-19 PGM market analysis and scenarios
With extensive experience covering the PGM markets and industry fundamentals, SFA can provide you with our latest market outlook and the window of scenarios.
PGM strategy, planning and Board support
SFA is a trusted advisor to Board members and senior management of significant stakeholders and provides regular assistance to strategy and planning efforts.
PGM price forecasting and project incentive pricing
SFA can provide accurate short-, medium- and long-term PGM price forecasts to support your business plans and contract negotiations.
PGM markets and supply risk dashboards
SFA provides regular data flows of mine supply and metallurgical pipelines, basket prices, mine economics, and PGM demand to assist strategic decision-making.
'Black-box' PGM and macro scenario modelling
Clients approach SFA to run their own supply and macro modelling demand inputs to see the impact this has on the medium- to long-term PGM market balances.
PGM investor Board packs and roadshows
SFA supports its clients on global roadshows to assist on capital raisings and converse with fund managers, institutional investors and family wealth officers.
Black swan events and PGM market impacts
The SFA team is constantly providing rich insights for its clients on structural events moving the PGM markets, particularly when the situation continues to change.
Corporate ESG strategy and PGM stewardship
SFA works closely with value chain players to understand how materially significant ESG issues can be integrated into their wider company strategy.
Peer-group ESG benchmarking for PGMs
SFA's benchmarking of PGM producers on material ESG factors generates high-resolution insights for sustainability-conscious investors.
Cradle-to-grave ESG recycling studies
SFA's analysis of environmental footprints from recycled material in terms of greenhouse gases, waste generation and processing is helping secure new investments.
Macroeconomics and precious metals
For many years, SFA's extensive expertise in analysing the changing dynamics of global economies, financial markets and precious metals has enabled us to deliver bespoke research to enhance your next strategy.
PGM trade flows and stock reconciliation
SFA analyses the physical movements of PGMs for demand-side and supply-side participants, how futures contracts are priced and traded, and quantifies above-ground PGM stocks from key sectors.
Closed and open-loop PGM market evaluation
SFA can provide you with the most insightful 360-degree research covering the secret closed-loop market sectors by quantifying installed capacities, system losses and top-up requirements by company and sector.
Formulating regional trading desk strategies
SFA has significant experience mapping regional and localised end-use markets for PGMs to assist clients in discovering new trading opportunities and client targets by volume and sector.
Due diligence studies and commercial advisory
Working with clients and third parties, SFA has a long track record of providing battery metals technical due diligence and financial modelling support.
Mergers, acquisitions, and corporate defence
Clients have used SFA to provide the analytical link with banks and financial institutions to support investment decision making and provide robust market support.
Strategy, planning and Board support
SFA is a trusted advisor to boardrooms and senior management to major stakeholders and provides regular assistance to battery metals strategy and planning.
Price forecasting and project incentive pricing
SFA provides accurate short- to long-term battery metal price forecasts to support your business plans and contract negotiations, backed by our extensive research.
Black swan events and market impacts
The SFA team is constantly providing rich insights for its clients on structural events moving the battery metals markets and battery technology substitution.
Investor Board packs and investor roadshows
SFA regularly supports clients on roadshows to assist on capital raisings and converse with fund managers, institutional investors and family wealth offices.
Battery life cycle analysis and ESG impact
SFA evaluates the long and complex life cycle analysis of battery metals and materials to improve the recycling opportunities available for market stakeholders.
Automotive powertrains and battery metals demand
SFA delivers detailed insights into market risks of automotive technologies for light-duty, heavy-duty, off-road and fuel cell vehicles to meet emission targets.
Energy storage to support renewable energy strategies
The pressure for renewable energy generation will require intermittent chemical energy storage solutions to support international climate change objectives.
EV charging and infrastructure deployment
With charging infrastructure lagging behind EV sales, SFA is on hand to help determine which localised markets will support battery electric vehicles.
EV recycling opportunities and value chain assessment
Growing electric vehicle production and the build out of lithium-ion battery factories has led to the emergence of players, supply chains and processing technologies in battery recycling.
Joining the dots for other battery metals & materials
SFA evaluates the strategic opportunities of other strategic battery materials such as manganese, vanadium, copper, graphite, silica, and rare earth elements.
Battery technologies – opportunities and threats
SFA analyses the emergence of the new and competing cathode, anode and electrolyte technologies, market adoption and the fall-out this has on battery materials.
Corporate ESG strategy and battery metals stewardship
SFA works closely with value chain players to understand how materially significant ESG issues can be integrated into their wider company strategy.
Peer-group ESG battery metals benchmarking
SFA's benchmarking of battery metal producers on material ESG factors generates high-resolution insights for sustainability-conscious investors.
Strategy, planning and Board support
SFA works with value chain players to navigate green hydrogen opportunities, energy solutions, market risks and emerging zero-carbon technologies.
Due diligence studies and commercial advisory
SFA identifies investment and commercial opportunities for players across the hydrogen value chain, and where green hydrogen can be best utilised for investment.
Renewable energy and green hydrogen economics
SFA evaluates electrolyser and competing technology economics, growth opportunities and market risks for PGM based-technologies and thrifting.
Green metals for the hydrogen economy
SFA provides long-term precious metal supply security outlooks for platinum, iridium and ruthenium using detailed modelling of mine supply and recycling.
Hydrogen transport and energy storage
With SFA’s Hydrogen Mobility Watch, we can help you track the development of hydrogen fuel cell initiatives and infrastructure development projects underway.
Industry mapping the hydrogen landscape
SFA is closely following the green hydrogen water electrolyser and mobility players and projects underway across the industry, and national strategy developments.
Green hydrogen project benchmarking
SFA is developing its capabilities to benchmark individual green hydrogen projects to assess the long-term viability of industrial players becoming more competitive.
The legislative landscape around green hydrogen
SFA assesses the main international legal frameworks for green hydrogen development, penalties and incentives, implications and end-use sector opportunities.
Investor Board packs and roadshows
SFA is a trusted advisor to the Boards and senior management of major stakeholders and provides regular assistance to hydrogen strategy and planning efforts.
North America's hydrogen and fuel cells market
North America has an ambitious hydrogen roadmap, leveraging decades of scientific and engineering developments, particularly in California.
Europe's green hydrogen and fuel cells market
Europe is home to some of the most innovative technologies, ambitious decarbonisation targets and national strategies, and strongest value chain networks.
Japan's green hydrogen and fuel cells market
Japanese companies continue to be pioneers in developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, as the country seeks to strengthen its energy security.
Market outlook reports for investors
The PGM Quarterly Market Report and Price Outlook
Released every three months, this price risk-focused report details-impacting factors for platinum, palladium and rhodium markets for the next three years.
PGM Market Report and Price Outlook to 2040
Our highly detailed market view provides current and long-term trends and influences acting on the global PGM markets.
The 2050 PGM Market Report and Price Outlook
SFA's new ground-breaking forward-looking report analyses the influences, market risks and trends on the PGM markets out to 2050.
The Iridium Market Report and Price Outlook
A comprehensive quarterly report on iridium market fundamentals and integration of future technologies for new and existing end-users.
The Ruthenium Market Report and Price Outlook
Stay up-to-date with a quarterly 5-year forecast on ruthenium's technological developments and underlying evolution of supply, demand and end-use applications.
Green Hydrogen Metals Market and Price Outlook
A proprietary report unlocking the current and future demands for precious metals (Pt, Ir, and Ru) used in electrolysers and fuel cells for the hydrogen economy.
Heraeus Precious Appraisal and Market Spotlights
In collaboration with Heraeus, this weekly report makes sure all the key precious metal and macroeconomic developments are fully analysed by the SFA team.
Joining the Dots between the PGM markets & prices
Unrivalled insights and definitive answers to PGM purchasing dynamics, metal flows, trading and pricing factors affecting platinum, palladium and rhodium.
Spent Autocatalyst PGM Recycling Mapped
A comprehensive study of recycled autocatalysts from scrapyards, collection, decanners, smelting and refining players, technology developments and economics.
North America PGM Market Outlook
An assessment of PGM purchasing, trade flows and end-use consumption as well as mapping key industry players for strategic investment.
China PGM Market Outlook
Bottom-up evaluation of the precious metals trading environment, regulatory framework, end-use markets, recycling volumes and key players.
Southeast Asia PGM Market Outlook
A critical impact study of PGM consumption by country of major-end uses, and future metal requirements by company.
India PGM Market Outlook
Detailed market intelligence on PGM demand and supply, major players and the recycling market to assist strategic planning.
The Long-term Chrome Market Outlook
Our bespoke chrome report gives our latest view on supply, demand, and pricing out to 2026 and analyses the impact of chrome on mine profitability.
Battery Metals Quarterly Report and Price Outlook
Our quarterly price risk-focused report details factors impacting the lithium, nickel and cobalt markets for the next five years and future battery technology trends.
Joining the dots between Lithium, Nickel and Cobalt
The SFA team completes a deep dive into the short- to long-term opportunities enabling the success of electric vehicle production across supported regions.
Quarterly Lithium Market Report and Prices Outlook
Released four times a year, SFA's lithium price risk report details short- to medium-term factors impacting the lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide markets.
Lithium Market Outlook to 2040
This ground-breaking, forward-looking report analyses the trends and influences on the lithium market and battery technologies out to 2040.
Quarterly Nickel Market Report and Prices Outlook
Released each quarter, SFA's nickel price risk-focused service details the factors impacting nickel sulphate demand, MHP and refined nickel for the next five years.
Nickel Market Outlook to 2040
This ground-breaking, forward-looking report analyses the trends and influences on the nickel market and battery technologies out to 2040.
Quarterly Cobalt Market Report and Price Outlook
Released each quarter, SFA's cobalt price risk-focused report details cobalt supply and demand impacting factors for the next five years.
Cobalt Market Outlook to 2040
This ground-breaking, forward-looking report analyses the trends and influences on the cobalt market and battery technologies out to 2040.
North America Battery Materials Market Outlook
Significant long-term opportunities exist along the value chain as more supportive legislation drives EV growth, with greater awareness of ESG pressures.
China Battery Materials Market Outlook
China has the largest electric vehicle market in the world, so how can China co-exist with the rest of the world in this sector?
Europe Battery Materials Market Outlook
European automakers need greater involvement in the battery supply chain to source raw materials and precursor components to improve supply security.
Australia Battery Materials Market Outlook Report
With Australia's abundance of battery raw materials, long-term challenges exist to develop its beneficiation strategy towards battery-grade precursor products.
The Lithium Triangle in South America
Argentina, Bolivia and Chile have long been low-cost sources of lithium supply for electric vehicles but greater ESG scrutiny means new processes must be adopted.
India Battery Materials Market Outlook
With high car ownership, dense cities, and the need to improve urban air quality, how can India adopt more electric vehicles and can city infrastructure cope?
Investor news and insights
ESG Backlash and Regulatory Deregulation
3 March 2025 | Ismet Soyocak
The global ESG landscape has witnessed an unprecedented wave of regulatory rollbacks, corporate retreats, and shifting political rhetoric.
Congo bans cobalt exports from DRC
25 February 2025 | Rj Coetzee
In a significant move to address the oversupply in the cobalt market, the DRC's ARECOMS announced a four-month suspension of cobalt exports
Iridium’s outlook linked to hydrogen economy wariness
21 October 2024 | SFA (Oxford) & Heraeus
Chinese heavy-duty vehicle platinum demand could be ready for a rise
7 October 2024 | SFA (Oxford) & Heraeus
Where does the palladium market go from here?
23 September 2024 | SFA (Oxford) & Heraeus
The Chinese car market in 2024 – PHEVs, subsidies and palladium
19 August 2024 | SFA (Oxford) & Heraeus
Our industry value chain expertise
How can we help you?
SFA (Oxford) provides bespoke, independent intelligence on the strategic metal markets, specifically tailored to your needs. To find out more about what we can offer you, please contact us.