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2026-05-26 17:32:16
[Aluminum Smelters Offer Premiums to Japanese Buyers at $480 Per Ton in Q3, Up 36%-37% Quarter-on-Quarter, Hitting Multi-Year High] ⑴ A global aluminum producer has offered Japanese buyers a premium of $480 per ton for primary aluminum cargoes for July-September shipments, a 36%-37% increase from the current quarter, three sources directly involved in quarterly pricing negotiations revealed on Tuesday. ⑵ Japan is Asia's largest aluminum importer, and its quarterly premiums for primary aluminum cargoes—an surcharge on top of the London Metal Exchange cash price—set the benchmark for the region. ⑶ In the April-June quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to pay premiums of $350-$353 per ton, a significant increase of 79%-81% from the previous quarter, reaching an 11-year high, mainly due to tighter supply caused by conflicts in the Middle East. ⑷ From a trading psychology perspective, the significant increase in premiums in the new quarter reflects the continued unresolved pressure on the supply side. Even though the peace agreement had eased market tensions, it will still take time for the supply chain to return to normal. Aluminum buyers will face higher import costs, and price pressures in related downstream industries may also be transmitted as a result.
