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Worldwide aluminium producer seeks Q3 premiums of $175/T, sources say

An international aluminium producer has actually offered Japanese purchasers a premium of $175 per metric lot for JulySeptember primary metal deliveries, up 18% to 21% from the current quarter, three sources directly involved in quarterly prices talks stated on Wednesday.

Japan is a significant Asian importer of the light metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it accepts pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash cost set the criteria for the region.

For the April-June quarter, Japanese purchasers consented to pay a. premium of $145-$ 148 per lot << PREM-ALUM-JP >, up 61% to 64% from. the prior quarter.

The increase reflected tighter supply in Asia due to strong. need from European consumers, said a source at the producer,. noting that greater premiums in Europe were attracting international. producers to send supply to the region. He added premiums in. North America were likewise much greater than in Asia.

Japanese buyers, however, consider the level as expensive. since demand in the nation's industrial and building. sectors stays slow and inventories are appropriate, another. source at a Japanese trading home stated.

The sources decreased to be identified because of the. sensitivity of the discussions.

Aluminium stocks at three major Japanese ports. << AL-STK-JPPRT > stood at 308,100 metric tons at the end of April,. according to Marubeni Corp, greater than the 250,000. lots to 300,000 loads that are considered healthy.

Quarterly pricing settlements started late last week in between. Japanese buyers and worldwide suppliers, consisting of Rio Tinto Ltd. and South32 Ltd, and are anticipated to continue. till next month.

(source: Reuters)