US aluminum scrap export prices moved up across grades this past week as demand strengthened and domestic supply was hit by bad weather.
Chinese buyers returned to the market this week, quoting higher prices for traditional grades as well as zorba. Still, buying activity was slow and is expected to pick up on Monday. Demand from India has also been robust since Japan raised its buying prices for ADC12 to $2,200/mt cfr this week from $2,100/mt cfr last week.
On the other hand, shipments to Mexico were forced to a halt due to the winter storms in Texas.
The weekly Davis Index for zorba 95/2 rose by 1.7¢/lb to 68.2¢/lb fas US port. The index for zorba 99/3 went up by 5.3¢/lb to 70.3¢/lb fas.
The index for Taint/Tabor rose by 2.9¢/lb to settle at 67.9¢/lb fas while Tense moved up by 3.1¢/lb to 66.6¢/lb fas. The index for bare 6063 inched up by a penny to 83.5¢/lb fas and A356 wheels increased by 1.4¢/lb to 81.9¢/lb fas.
The official LME Aluminium cash price settled Thursday at $2,147/mt (97.3¢/lb), up $71.50/mt from $2,075.50/mt on Feb 11.