Asia aluminium import prices for all grades rose despite a drop in LME three-month aluminium contracts. Asian buyers struggled to secure scrap amidst container and vessel shortages experienced by exporters in the US. Trades for ADC 12 in China and Japan remained slow.
Demand from auto alloy manufacturers has slowed down compared to October and November months, said market participants. But a delay in the transport of scarp is boosting prices.
The official three-month LME aluminium contract settled at $2,020.5/mt on Jan 7, $40.5/mt up from $1,980/mt on Dec 31.
The weekly Davis Index for Zorba 95/2 settled at $1,700/mt cfr India port up $50/mt from $1,650/mt cfr in the prior week. The weekly Davis Index for Zorba 99/3 settled at $1,815/mt cif China port, up $65/mt from the prior week.
The weekly Davis Index for Talk or Aluminium-Copper radiators settled at $3,817/mt cfr India port, up $117/mt from $3,700/mt in the prior week. Taint/Tabor settled at $1,543/mt cfr India port up by $50/mt from the prior week. The Index for Tense settled unchanged at $1,500/mt cfr India port from the prior week.
The weekly Davis Index for 6063 extrusion rose to $1,663/mt cfr India port from $1,628/mt, up by $35/mt from the prior week while the index for A356 wheels rose to $1,910/mt cfr India port from $1,813/mt, up by $97/mt from the prior week.
In China, the weekly Davis Index for ADC 12 settled at $2,175/mt cfr China port up by $20/mt from the prior week, while in Japan, the index for the grade settled at $2,570/mt cfr Japan port up $245/mt from the prior week. Indian manufacturers reported limited purchase orders from Japan.