Reuters reported that the premium for primary aluminum shipments to Japan in the July to September quarter has been set at USD 120 per tonne for at least one deal up from USD 113 for the current April to June quarter.
An industry source directly involved in the premium talks said that despite the sluggish outlook for domestic demand, Japanese buyers have braced for an increase in the premium as suppliers cited high premiums in Europe and the United States. The premium was generally in line with what many buyers had expected.