Japan Secondary Alloyed Aluminium Makers Seek Hike in January

Japanese secondary alloyed aluminium ingot makers aim to hike the selling price by more than 10 yen per kilogram for die casting products and by more than 15 yen per kg for castings for January shipment from previous month. The ingot makers could raise the selling price by around 5 yen per kg in each November and December 2006 from previous months against the users including die casting makers. The ingot makers regard the hike in November and December as not sufficient and seek to cover the shortage in January.Primary aluminium price at London Metal Exchange keeps strong, which surged to over US$ 2,800 per tonne at the end of December 2006 and currently rebounded to the high level again after the temporary adjustment in early January. The spot price stays high when the backwardation becomes wider at LME.Japanese secondary alloyed aluminium ingot makers are suffered from higher costs for materials, fuel and distribution. The makers aim to pass the costs expansion on their selling prices for primary aluminium as well as fuel and distribution. They consider the hike was not sufficient in November and December 2006 by total more than 10 yen per kg.