• The figure is lower than the $108 per tonne paid in the July-September quarter and marks a first quarterly drop in three.
• Japan is Asia's biggest importer of the light metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange cash price set the benchmark for the region.

The figure is lower than the $108 per tonne paid in the July-September quarter and marks a first quarterly drop in three.

It is also lower than the initial offers of $105-$115 made by producers.

Japan is Asia's biggest 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.