Platts launches FOB Canada aluminum premium assessment

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched a new daily aluminum FOB Canada premium assessment, effective Dec. 8, 2025.

The new FOB Canada premium assessment (AFCPB00) was launched in response to requests for greater transparency regarding Canadian aluminum exports to the US and duty-unpaid aluminum import costs, particularly as the implementation of US tariffs has affected traditional trade flows.

The new assessment reflects 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, and is assessed in cents/lb.

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

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.

Based on market feedback, Platts may also consider spot tonnage 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.

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

The assessment follows a London/LME holiday calendar and reflects a 4 pm US ET timestamp.

Platts first proposed launching the assessment in an Oct. 14 subscriber note, and announced its decision in a Nov. 10 subscriber note.

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