Global aluminium producers have offered Japanese buyers premiums of $125-$145 per tonne for April-June primary metal shipments, up 45%-71% from this quarter, five sources directly involved in quarterly pricing talks said.
The offers, if agreed by buyers, would mark the first increase in six quarters and the highest level since the October-December quarter in 2022, reflecting a view from producers that demand from automakers is set to pick up.
Japan is Asia’s biggest importer of the metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region.
The quarterly pricing negotiations began last week between Japanese buyers, such as rolling mills and trading houses, and global suppliers of aluminium ingots, including Rio Tinto Ltd and South32 Ltd, and are expected to continue until later this month.
For the January-March quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to pay a premium of $85-$86 per tonne , down 13-14% from the prior quarter.
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