Fastmarkets launches low-carbon aluminium differential 

Read more about how we are responding to growing demand for green metal in Japan and South Korea

Fastmarkets, an industry-leading cross-commodity price-reporting agency (PRA), has announced the launch of a new low-carbon-aluminium differential price in Asia.  

The launch of a low-carbon aluminium price differential responds to the increasing demand for sustainable materials in the automotive and manufacturing sectors in Asia. Recognizing the inflow of low-carbon aluminium to Japanese and South Korean markets, and the readiness of these sectors to pay a premium over conventional aluminium, Fastmarkets aims to establish a transparent pricing mechanism that reflects the growing green economy in Asia.  

Starting March 1, Fastmarkets will publish a CIF Japan and South Korea differential, making it the premier PRA to price East Asia’s low-carbon aluminium. The launch of the price expands Fastmarkets’ suite of low-carbon aluminium prices to include Asia and complements its European and US prices.  

The CIF Japan and South Korea low-carbon aluminium differential will be assessed against CIF major Japanese ports premium, Fastmarkets’ benchmark price for aluminium in Asia.  

The differential features a robust specification as follows:

  • Carbon limit: 4tCO2e per tonne of aluminium produced (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) 
  • Quality: P1020A or 99.7% minimum aluminium purity 
  • Quantity: Minimum of 100 tonnes 
  • Location: Delivered to Japan & South Korea 
  • Delivery window: Within three months 
  • Unit: USD per tonne 
  • Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 4 pm London time 

Raju Daswani, CEO of Fastmarkets, underlines the company’s commitment to providing prices, news and analysis to a fast-evolving market, stating, “We are excited to lead the charge in pricing transparency for sustainable commodities, especially at a time when the industry at large is moving towards a greener future.”  

With this launch, Fastmarkets reaffirms its reputation as a standard-bearer of innovation in commodity pricing, alongside notable actions such as pricing black mass, launching an Asia green steel differential and a new European carbon-reduced flat steel price

What to read next
Fastmarkets launched two new aluminium scrap prices on Thursday, April 9, adding to Fastmarkets’ suite of recycled non-ferrous metals price assessments. The launch will elevate and expand Fastmarkets’ aluminium scrap coverage by including the following grades: Section 232 tariffs and the resulting high aluminium premiums have led to increased costs and rising interest in recycled […]
The European Commission published the first-quarter 2026 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) certificate price on Tuesday April 7, applicable to all CBAM-eligible goods imported into the EU in January-March 2026.
Growing uncertainty over Guinea’s bauxite export policy, alongside severe disruption to alumina supply chains caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, emerged as key themes at the Fastmarkets Bauxite & Alumina Conference in Miami on March 24-25, with delegates warning of heightened price volatility and shifting trade flows.
Until now, aluminium has been hard to move, not hard to find. Global aluminium supply had remained technically intact, even as output was curtailed in parts of the Gulf, inventory buffers were drawn down or repositioned, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was severely disrupted.
Global aluminium producers face heightened uncertainty over power supplies, with oil and gas prices elevated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) flows, sources told Fastmarkets.
An interview with Sir Mick Davis, former CEO of Xstrata, founder and CEO of Vision Blue Resources, on financing in mining with Andrea Hotter for the Fast Forward podcast