Japan aluminum premium falls to $108/t on sluggish demand

The premium for aluminum shipments to Japanese buyers for July to September was set at $108 per metric ton, down 41% from the current quarter, reflecting sluggish demand, six sources directly involved in pricing talks said.

The figure, lower than the $182 per ton paid in April to June, marks a second consecutive quarterly decline and the lowest level since the first quarter of 2024. It comes below initial offers of $122 to $145 per ton made by global producers.

Japan is a major Asian importer of the light metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region.

“Domestic aluminum demand has been weak for about a year, even before the US tariffs kicked in,” a trading house source said, referring to the Trump administration’s levies on aluminum and cars.

“The decline in Japan’s premiums reflects slack demand and ample supply in Asia,” the source added.

Aluminum stocks at three major Japanese ports rose to 331,000 tons at the end of May, up 3.3% from the previous month, according to Marubeni.

A second source at a producer said soft overseas premiums also contributed to the drop.

“US premiums rose briefly but eased lately as buyers built up stocks ahead of tariffs,” the source said.

“We expect inventories to clear and premiums to rebound in the next quarter, which could tighten Asian supply,” he said.

US President Donald Trump doubled aluminum import tariffs to 50% from June 4 to support domestic production of the metal used in the transport, packaging and construction industries.

In the US, physical market premiums fell after peaking at a record 62.50 cents a lb on June 6 as traders also speculated that tariffs on Canadian shipments could be cut, metal industry sources said.

While Japan has seen limited local impact, buyers worry that demand from automakers might fall. Tokyo is pushing Washington to exempt its carmakers from a 25% auto tariff. Japan also faces a 24% “reciprocal” tariff rate starting on July 9 unless it can negotiate a deal with Washington.

The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The quarterly pricing talks began in late May between Japanese buyers and global suppliers, including Rio Tinto and South32.

(By Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Tom Hogue and Sonali Paul)