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Japan Q1 aluminium premium hits 10-year high on stronger abroad prices

The premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for January to March was set at $ 228 a metric load, the highest in about ten years, driven by supply worries in the middle of stronger overseas premiums, five sources straight involved in rates talks stated.

The figure is greater than the $175 per ton paid in the October-to-December quarter and marks a fourth consecutive quarterly boost and the greatest given that April-June quarter in 2015.

Still, it is below initial deals of $230 to $260 per load made by worldwide manufacturers.

Japan is a major importer of the light metal in Asia and the premiums << PREM-ALUM-JP > for main metal shipments it accepts pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME). cash cost sets the benchmark for the area.

Japan's domestic demand remained slow, however concerns over. tighter supply amidst higher U.S. premiums, connected to a potential. tariff increase on aluminium imports from Canada and Mexico by. U.S. President Donald Trump, have actually pressed premiums higher in Asia. as buyers relocate to protect the metal, a trading house source stated.

Higher premiums were likewise supported by worries over China's. elimination of a 13% export tax refund for aluminium. semi-manufactured products from Dec. 1. This might improve ingot. demand from Asian rolling mills outside China to produce. semi-finished products, another source at a global producer. stated.

We have actually currently received some questions for extra. supply from Asian consumers, the source included.

Meanwhile, aluminium stocks at three major Japanese. ports << AL-STK-JPPRT > rose to 323,600 tons by

the end of

December, up about 13 %from. the previous month, according to Marubeni. The boost. reflected slow domestic need from automakers and building and construction. sector, the first source stated. Quarterly prices talks started in late November in between.

Japanese buyers and worldwide suppliers including Rio Tinto. , and South32. The negotiations took about a month longer

than normal to. conclude, with some manufacturers and purchasers settling at $228 in mid-December, while another manufacturer promoted

. a higher level, according to the sources. The sources declined to be identified

due to the. level of sensitivity of the matter.

(source: Reuters)