Japan Q4 aluminium premium set at $97/T, down 24% Q/Q -sources
TOKYO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The premium for Japanese aluminium shipments for the fourth quarter was set at $97 per metric ton, down 24% from the prior quarter, as demand remained dull at home and abroad, five sources directly involved in pricing talks said.
The figure is lower than the $127.5 per ton paid in July to September and the lowest since the January-March quarter this year. Producers had originally sought premiums of $110 to $120 per ton for the fourth quarter.
Japan is Asia's biggest importer of the light metal and the premium 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. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Jamie Freed)