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Fastmarkets launches low-carbon aluminium differential 

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

March 4, 2024
By Yolande Peters
Aluminium Low carbon aluminium Metals and mining;Energy transition Press release

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. 

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