Amendment to frequency and timing window of US low-carbon aluminium differentials: pricing notice

After a 30-day consultation period, Fastmarkets will lower the frequency of its assessments for MB-AL-0389 aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, US Midwest and MB-AL-0390 aluminium low-carbon differential value-added product US Midwest. Fastmarkets will also extend the timing window of these assessments to include any transaction data concluded within up to 18 months.

The first amendment decreases the differentials’ publishing frequency to once monthly from once weekly. Both differentials will be next assessed on January 3, 2025, and on the first Friday of each month thereafter. The monthly frequency matches Fastmarkets’ low-carbon aluminium differentials in other regions and better reflects current market liquidity. No feedback was received during the consultation period, which began on November 21.

The second amendment extends the timing window to include any transaction data concluded within up to 18 months, from three months previously. The extension of the timing window will allow for an inclusive approach to an evolving low-carbon marketplace, allowing Fastmarkets to capture all reported transaction data under one robust differential. No negative feedback was received during the consultation period.  

The new specifications for the differentials will be as follows (changes in italics):

MB-AL-0389 Aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, US Midwest, US cents/lb
Carbon limit: 4tCO2e per tonne of aluminium produced, Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Quality: P1020A or 99.7% minimum Al purity (Si 0.10% max, Fe 0.20% max). Ingot, T-bar, sow
Quantity: Min 100 tonnes
Location: Delivered consumer works Midwest, differential on top of P1020A premium and exchange-listed aluminum price.
Unit: US cents per pound
Timing: Up to 18 months
Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 3-4pm London time.

MB-AL-0390 Aluminium low-carbon differential value-added product, US Midwest, US cents/lb
Carbon limit: 4tCO2e per tonne of aluminium produced, Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Type: Extrusion billet, primary foundry alloy, wire rod, slab
Quantity: Min 100 tonnes
Location: Delivered into US Midwest region, differential on top of value-added product premium and exchange-listed aluminum price
Unit: US cents per pound
Timing: Up to 18 months
Publication: Monthly, first Friday of the month, 3-4pm London time.

These prices are a part of the Fastmarkets base metals package.

To provide feedback on this price, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Yasemin Esmen by email at pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Yasemin Esmen, re: US low-carbon aluminium differentials.”

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

To see all Fastmarkets pricing methodology and specification documents, go to https://www.fastmarkets.com/methodology.

What to read next
Fastmarkets proposes to launch Nordic sawn timber export prices for selected European markets and grades, while discontinuing the PIX Sawn Timber FAS Finland indices. The PIX sawn timber FAS Finland indices have not been widely adopted by the industry and the new price assessments will offer more end-market-specific data for major European markets and will […]
To increase transparency, Fastmarkets has further clarified how it handles price movements during periods of low liquidity. Factors that Fastmarkets may consider during times of low liquidity include, but are not limited to: market fundamentals such as changes in inventory levels, shipments, operating rates and export volumes; relative fundamentals of similar commodities in the same […]
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for PIX Packaging GCC indices via an open consultation process between April 16 and May 14, 2025. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process. Full details of the prices covered by this consultation can be found here. No feedback […]
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for the PIX Forest Biomass Finland price indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process. This consultation, which is open until June 12, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical market under indexation, in compliance with the […]
The publication of the following price was delayed for 10 minutes: MB-ALU-0002 Alumina index, fob Australia, $/tonne This price is a part of the Fastmarkets Base Metals package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter […]
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.