Latest News

Trafigura provides large amounts of aluminium to LME for profitable lease deals, sources say

Product trader Trafigura delivered more than 400,000 metric lots of aluminium to London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses for financially rewarding financial deals, 3 sources familiar with the matter told , describing a large dive in stocks.

The so-called lease offers allow LME-approved storage facilities to share charges with companies that deliver metal to them.

Companies that provide aluminium for lease offers do not have to retain ownership of the metal, but can get a share of the lease, paid by the new owners, for as long as the metal stays in that storage facility.

The sources said Swiss-based Trafigura delivered most of the 425,575 tons to LME warehouses in Port Klang, Malaysia. Rent for keeping aluminium in LME warehouses is around 55 U.S. cents per heap per day, or more than $230,000 for that quantity of aluminium.

Trafigura and the LME decreased to comment.

Total aluminium stocks in LME storage facilities << MALSTX-TOTAL >. climbed up 88%, or a net 424,000 metric heaps, to 903,850 tons on. Thursday, the highest level considering that January 2022 << 0 #MALSTX- LOC>>

. The shipment of 425,575 loads to Port Klang drove the jump.

Two sources stated the majority of the aluminium delivered to LME. warehouses was of Indian origin and that there was potentially. another 400,000 tons of aluminium waiting in Port Klang for. delivery to LME storage facilities.

One source stated aluminium coming from Russia could be in. the mix.

The LME banned from its system Russian aluminium, copper and. nickel produced from April 13 to adhere to new U.S. and UK. sanctions imposed over Russia's intrusion of Ukraine.

For metal produced before April 13, the LME developed. different categories for aluminium outside or currently inside its. system. It later clarified the rules, in what market sources. stated was a transfer to stop the gaming of the Russian aluminium. sanctions and LME rule modifications.

Standard three-month aluminium rates were last. down 0.6% at $2,545.5 per ton.

(source: Reuters)