The US Defense National Stockpile Center has announced that it will suspend competitive commercial offerings of six commodities, including platinum.

The suspension comes as a result of an on-going study looking into concerns about the needs for strategic materials within the Department of Defense.

Along with platinum, columbium metal ingot, tantalum carbibe powder, iridium, tin and zinc have all been suspended.

A proportion of some other metals will be held in reserve so that they can be used for defence contracts.

As a result, sales of beryllium, cobalt, ferromanganese, ferrochromium, germanium, tungsten ores and tungsten metal power will be restricted.

An ongoing review of the stockpile may result in additional adjustments to future sales plans.

The results of a review led by the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy are expected in late November 2008.



Source:

Stockpile Announces Sale Suspensions and Reductions of Select Commodities, 07/08/08
https://www.dnsc.dla.mil/News.asp?Month=August&Year=2008