US aluminum scrap export prices moved up for most grades on Thursday on improving demand from Southeast Asia.
Prices for zorba climbed on strengthening global demand. The import prices for Taint/Tabor jumped in India and Taiwan after LME Aluminium breached its annual highs earlier this week. On the other hand, the semiconductor shortage still weighs on the demand for imported ADC 12 in Japan because of which, Tense prices were rangebound this week.
Secondary smelters are also competing for the same scrap in the export market due to strong domestic demand and the competition has pushed prices up in the export market.
The weekly Davis Index for Taint/Tabor moved up by 2.3¢/lb to 73.5¢/lb fas US port while Tense settled at 70.5¢/lb fas, up by 0.5¢/lb.
Zorba 95/2 rose by 0.5¢/lb to 74.2¢/lb fas and the index for zorba 99/3 increased by 1.7¢/lb to 72.2¢/lb fas US port. LME sensitive 6063 extrusions climbed by a penny to settle at 97¢/lb fas. The index for A356 wheels inched up by 0.3¢/lb to 86.8¢/lb fas.
The official LME Aluminium cash price reached a new annual high of $2,267.50/mt ($1.028/lb), up by $55/mt from Apr 1.