Premium offers for aluminium supplies to Japan in the second quarter came in this week well above first-quarter levels, at $109-112 per tonne cif MJP, surprising buyers who are still hoping for a benchmark settlement below the $100 mark, Fastmarkets learned on Friday March 1.
A major aluminium producer has offered the light metal for delivery in the April-June period at a premium of $112 per tonne main Japanese ports (MJP) over LME cash prices, up a third from the first-quarter level of $83-85 per tonne, while another key overseas supplier has tabled a premium offer of $109, up nearly 30% from previous quarter premium, three sources told Fastmarkets. Other offers at $110 and $115 per tonne...