Though palladium is mined with platinum and resembles it in many respects, there are differences in its production and use that affect market behavior. Palladium is produced as a by-product of platimum or nickel mining. The Soviet Union is the world's leading mproducer mining and estimated 70% of world supply.

Palladium pricing is similar to platinum procing in that separeate NNYMEX futures, delaer and producer markets exist side by side. What is unique about the palladium market is the importancde of Russia.