Platts to launch new FOB Canada aluminum premium

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will launch a daily aluminum FOB Canada premium assessment, effective Dec. 8, 2025.

The new assessment will reflect a premium or discount to the LME cash settlement price for spot cargoes of 99.7% P1020A material on a free-on-board Canada basis, in sow, T-bar or ingot form, typically 1,000-10,000 mt, assessed in cents/lb.

The launch responds to requests for greater transparency regarding Canadian aluminum exports to the US and duty-unpaid aluminum import costs, particularly as traditional trade flows have been impacted by the implementation of US tariffs.

In addition to bids, offers, trades and indicative values for spot cargoes of 99.7% P1020A material on an FOB basis, Platts may consider relevant market information for material transacted on an FCA and/or ex-works basis in Canada, normalized to the basis location of Quebec St. Lawrence ports.

Following market feedback, Platts may also consider spot tonnages of less than 1,000 mt – with a minimum spot tonnage of 500 mt – and normalize to the basis quantity of 1,000-10,000 mt.

In the absence of market information published on an FOB, FCA or ex-works Canada basis, Platts may additionally consider adjacent international markets and apply appropriate freight rates to netback to an equivalent FOB Canada value.

Full specifications of the FOB Canada aluminum premium assessment will be as follows:

The aluminum FOB Canada premium assessment, as well as related monthly averages and $/mt conversions, will appear in Metals Daily and Metals Week, on the PMA413 and MTL413 fixed pages, and in the Platts pricing database.

The assessment will follow a London/LME holiday calendar and reflect a 4 pm US ET timestamp.

Platts first proposed launching the assessment on Oct.14 in a subscriber note available here

Please send comments and questions to metalsamericas@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com

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