Global aluminium producer seeks Q2 premium of $260/T from Japan buyers, sources say

A global aluminium producer has sought a premium of $260 per metric ton from Japanese buyers for April-June primary metal shipments, up 14% from the current quarter, two sources directly involved in pricing talks said this week. Japan is a major Asian importer of the metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange cash price set the benchmark for the region. For the January-March quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to pay a premium of $228 per ton, the highest in nearly a decade and up 30% from the prior quarter.