Last week the purchasing director of General Motors David Andres informed that the company is ready to use palladium instead of platinum in catalysts production.

Experts express the opinion that in case of the demand for palladium increase in 2004 the earnings of “Norilsk Nickel” Company palladium realization can grow from the current $400 mln up to $630 mln.

According to the president of Norimet Company (the export trader of "Norilsk Nickel") Petr Holodny, the interest of large automobile concerns in palladium will restore the demand for Russian palladium and increase the volume of supplies up to 3 mln ounces a year.