TOKYO, July 18 (Reuters) - The premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for July to September was set at $172 per metric ton, up 16%-19% from the previous quarter, reflecting tighter supplies in Asia, five sources directly involved in pricing talks said.
The figure is higher than the $145-$148 per ton paid in April to June and marks a second consecutive quarterly increase. But it was below the initial offers of $175-$190 per ton made by global producers.
Japan is a major Asia's importer of the light metal and the premiums PREM-ALUM-JP for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange cash price CMAL0 set the benchmark for the region.
