US export aluminum scrap prices increased for all grades on Thursday amid strong demand from Asia as well as Mexico and Europe.
The weekly Davis Index for Taint/Tabor ticked up by 0.3¢/lb to 75¢/lb fas US port. Tense increased by 2.5¢/lb to 76¢/lb fas, rising for the second successive week, following demand from China and India. Since Japan has started bidding for and buying ADC12 again, both countries are competing to be the prime supplier of the grade. Japan’s move is largely attributed to an improvement in chip supply, according to market participants.
A356 wheels increased by 1.6¢/lb to 97.9¢/lb fas while the index for Talk stood at 2.10¢/lb fas, up 1.3¢/lb over the week.
Twitch has also become a hot commodity in the export aluminum scrap market, with many Asian buyers switching to this material as feedstock. This also serves US domestic producers, who aren’t able to make a profit at the moment. The weekly Davis Index for Zorba 95/2 inched up by 0.3¢/lb to 68¢/lb fas US port while Zorba 99/3 rose by 1.3¢/lb to 70.3¢/lb fas US port.
Participants hinted that some relief in elevated freight rates could soon be possible. Activity on the East Coast has increased considerably over the past week.