Premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for April to June was set at $82 per tonne, down 1.2% from the preceding quarter amid mounted fears of falling demand due to the spread of the coronavirus, four sources directly involved in the pricing talks said.

Japan is Asia’s biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums <PREM-ALUM-JP> 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.

Figures are in per tonne, over cash LME, CIF basis: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2020 $83 $82 2019 $83-85 $105 $108 $97 2018 $103 $129 $132 $103 2017 $95 $128 $118-119 $94-95 2016 $110 $115-117 $90-93 $75 2015 $425 $380 $100 $90 2014 $225 $365-370 $400-408 $420 2013 $240-245 $248-250 $250 $245-247 2012 $112 $121-122 $200-210 $254-255 2011 $112-113 $113 $120 $118 2010 $128-130 $122-124 $120 $116-118 2009 $58-62 $56-58 $75 $115-120 2008 $65 $83 $87-88 $75-76 2007 $76-77 $71-73 $68-69 $65-66 2006 $56 $60-61 $73 $82-83 2005 $86-87 $79-80 $70-72 $63 (