Japan aluminium buyers to pay higher premiums for April-June imports

TOKYO: Japanese aluminium buyers will pay a premium of $105 per tonne for imports during the April to June period, up as much as 27 percent from than the previous quarter as spot premiums rose, five sources directly involved in the pricing talks said.

Japan is Asia's biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums  for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region.

Following is a table of premiums agreed between Japanese buyers and global suppliers since 2005.