SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes to add duty-unpaid Midwest Aluminum values

Washington (Platts)--21Jun2018/639 am EDT/1039 GMT Following an extended period of market consultation, S&P Global Platts invites feedback on a proposal to publish an assessment for the value of "duty-unpaid" US Midwest aluminum P1020, as well as a daily calculated duty value. These new values would be published alongside Platts' existing CIF New Orleans duty-unpaid premium assessment, which was launched in February 2018 to provide insight into the value of aluminum trading on a duty-unpaid basis in the US. The new price indicators would also complement Platts' benchmark US Midwest Transaction Premium and the Transaction Price (all-in) assessments for P1020 aluminum, which are assessed on a delivered, duty-paid basis. Platts proposes to calculate on a daily basis a value for the import tariff charged on US imports of primary aluminum. This would be published in cents/lb as the "US Aluminum P1020 Import Duty." Platts would deduct this from the US Midwest Transaction Premium and the all-in Transaction Price assessments to generate the calculated duty-unpaid values for each, to be published in cents/lb as the "US Aluminum P1020 (duty unpaid) Premium delivered US Midwest" and the "US Aluminum P1020 (duty unpaid) Price delivered US Midwest" respectively. Platts specifically invites feedback on which points of origin would be most relevant for calculating an import duty value, and methods for establishing value at the most relevant locations of origin, as well as how many origin points should be considered when calculating an import tariff value. If the market evolves so that transactions do occur on a duty-unpaid Midwest basis, Platts would consider whether to update these calculated values to become full assessments that reflect transactions, bids, offers, and other relevant market data. Platts requests initial feedback on this proposal by July 6, 2018. Platts will hold a public forum to discuss all issues related to its US aluminum assessments, with more information forthcoming. Please submit any feedback, comments or questions to Platts_Aluminum@spglobal.com and copy 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.