03 Apr 2023 | 10:50 UTC

Platts to launch daily CIF Main Asian Ports P1020 aluminum assessment

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, is to launch a daily spot P1020 aluminum premium assessment delivered CIF Main Asian Ports, effective May 2, 2023.

The new CIF MAP premium will be assessed with South Korea's Incheon as the basis port. Shipments of P1020 aluminum to all other major Asian ports, excluding Japan, will be considered and may be normalized to Incheon port.

The decision to introduce an aluminum premium assessment delivered to other Asian ports outside Japan comes after consistent market feedback and observation that there has been a widening gap between Japan import premiums compared with most other markets in Asia. In recent years, the volume of spot trades to Japan has declined, while spot liquidity in rest of Asia has increased.

Publication of Platts existing CIF Japan spot and quarterly premium assessments remain unchanged.

The new CIF MAP assessment will be published daily as a premium or discount to the prevailing futures cash settlement price for high-grade aluminum. The market close will be 4:30 pm Singapore time and assessment publication will follow the Singapore publishing schedule.

The assessment will consider market information reported to Platts and published throughout the day, including firm bids and offers, transactions and indications, as well as any other data deemed relevant to the assessment process.

Symbols, specifications for Platts CIF MAP Aluminum Premium assessment:

Assessment
Symbol
Monthly Average
Quality
Quantity
Dimensions
Location
Timing
Payment
Unit of Measurement
Aluminum Premium P1020 CIF Main Asian Ports (MAP)
AAFGG00
AAFGG03
P1020A min 99.7% Al, max 0.1% Si, 0.2% Fe, 0.03% zinc, 0.04% gallium, 0.03% vanadium
Minimum 200 mt
25 kg ingot, sows, T-bars
Incheon, South Korea
Loading 15-60 days forward
Cash against documents or cash within 3 days of bill of lading
US dollars per metric ton

Calculation, normalization details:

Origin

The assessment will reflect the spot market value of P1020 aluminum of all open origins.

According to observed customs import data, the majority of P1020 aluminum imported into South Korea is of duty-free origin. In the event where non duty-free market data is observed, Platts may normalize and test such information in the market for assessment consideration.

Freight

Platts will consider main ports in northeast Asia for calculation and freight normalization purposes.

For example, Australia-origin P1020 aluminum traded at $100/mt on Jan. 24 for February loading, February pricing on CIF Vietnam basis.

Freight between Australia-to-northeast Asia is $10/mt higher compared with Australia-to-Vietnam.

Platts would normalize the trade to $110/mt by considering this freight differential.

Meanwhile, Platts has decided not to implement its proposal to publish a daily calculation reflecting the spread between the new spot premium for CIF Main Asian Ports and the CIF Japan Forward Quarter aluminum premium. This decision follows market feedback that such an assessment would not be relevant in the current market

Platts originally published the proposal March 8, and the relevant note can be found at:

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/030823-platts-proposes-to-launch-daily-cif-main-asian-ports-p1020-aluminum-assessment-spread-to-cif-japan-forward-quarter-premiu

Market participants are invited to send all comments, feedback, and questions to platts_mjp_moc@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.