Japanese Q4 aluminum premium falls 35% to $255/mt CIF Japan
Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the 2026 fourth-quarter premium for imported primary aluminum to Japan at $255/metric ton plus London Metal Exchange cash, CIF main Japanese ports, on Oct. 13, down 35.44% from $395/mt in the third quarter. The Q4 premium assessment was based on 10 trades concluded during the negotiations from Oct. ...
Japanese aluminum premium for Q4 dropped by 35% to $255/mt CIF Japan, according to Platts. This marked a significant decline from the $395/mt premium in the previous quarter. The Q4 premium was based on 10 trades negotiated between October 7 and 13, with all deals settling at $255/mt and a minimum volume of 19,500 metric tons per month.
Initial offers were around $310/mt CIF Japan in late August, rising to $325/mt in early September, before falling to $265/mt on October 2. The settlement contrasts sharply with Q3, when premiums peaked due to concerns over Middle Eastern production disruptions and limited Good Western-origin metal availability. The Q4 negotiations were driven by weakening spot market fundamentals and expectations of improved regional supply.
Japanese premiums outperformed the broader Asian market, with the Platts CIF Japan premium $42/mt higher than the MAP assessment on October 13. However, market participants anticipate further pressure on premiums into Q1 2027, as Indonesia's expanding aluminum production capacity is expected to boost regional supply.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
