The S&P Global Platts CIF Japan spot premium for aluminum ingot rose to $65-$80/mt plus 

London  Metal  Exchange  cash  CIF  Japan  on  Tuesday,  from $65-$70/mt on Monday, as 

Chinese buying pushed market higher, sources said. 

The assessment in a wide range or $65-$80/mt plus LME cash CIF Japan reflected a divided 

market. overseas producers, having achieved sales at $90-$100/mt plus LME cash CIF Chin

a Monday, were targeting high premiums. 

On the other hand, Japanese buyers pointed out to a domestic tender awarded Monday at 

Yen 201-202/kg ex-Yokohama warehouse for over 500 mt, which would be equivalent to LME 

cash price plus an import premium of $60-$63/mt and handling charges of $20-$30/mt. 

There is no buyer in Japan who would pay a $80/mt premium following this tender result, 

Japanese buyers said. 

On Tuesday, two Japanese traders said they were offered $80/mt plus LME cash CIF japan 

from two different producers, for December loading. There was also an offer at $90/mt plus 

LME cash CIF japan, for extremely prompt November loading. 

The offers were rejected. 

One producer told one Japanese trader spot sales were done into China at $90-$100/mt plu

s  LME  cash  CIF  China,  and  there  was  no  reason  to  sell  significantly  lower  to  other 

destinations. 

Two traders said they too had booked with Chinese buyers at $90-$100/mt plus LME CIF 

China Monday, as Shanghai Futures Exchange December contract traded several hundred 

dollars above LME, creating an opportunity for Chinese buyers to import. 

Japanese domestic market, however, remained steady. 

One Japanese consumer said he was offered by a local trader Yen 202-203/kg ex-warehouse 

Monday.  according  to  his  calculation,  premiums  would  be $ 65-$70/mt  over LME price of 

transaction day. 

"Market has not changed," he said. 

Platts does not take into account domestic spot deals into import premium assessment, as 

they are on different currencies and conversion process differs among deals. 

Platts, however, noted that the domestic tender result was referred for market guidance by 

several Japanese market participants.