US aluminum export prices rose across most grades on Thursday with fickle demand against tight supply bolstering prices.
The weekly Davis Index for 95/2 Zorba increased by 1.4¢/lb to 33.2¢/lb fas US ports and increased by the same amount for 99/3 Zorba to 37.8¢/lb fas on Thursday.
The index for taint/tabor increased by 0.03¢/lb to 39.7¢/lb fas US ports and was flat for tense at 41.7¢/lb fas. The index for A356 wheels also remained unchanged at 57.2¢/lb fas US port.
The official three-month LME aluminum contract increased by $12/mt to close at $1,510/mt on Thursday from $1,498/mt on April 23.
Market participants are seeing some demand for aluminum scrap exports but not across all grades. Europe seems to be more interested in segmented alloys, while southeast Asian importers are looking for aluminum shredder grades.