TABLE-Japan aluminium buyers to pay lower premiums for July-September imports

TOKYO, July 4 (Reuters) - The premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for July to September was set at $148 a tonne, down 14% from the previous quarter, to reflect weak demand for automobiles amid a global chip shortage, five sources directly involved in pricing talks said. The figure is lower than the $172 a tonne paid in the April-June quarter and marks a third consecutive quarterly drop. The level below $150 comes for the first time since the April-June quarter in 2021. Japan is Asia's biggest importer of the light metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price CMAL0 set the benchmark for the region. Following is a table of premiums agreed between Japanese buyers and global suppliers since 2005. Figures are in per tonne, over cash LME, CIF basis: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2022 $177 $172 $148 2021 $130 $148-149 $185 $220 2020 $83 $82 $79 $88 2019 $83-85 $105 $108 $97 2018 $103 $129 $132 $103 2017 $95 $128 $118-119 $94-95 2016 $110 $115-117 $90-93 $75 2015 $425 $380 $100 $90 2014 $225 $365-370 $400-408 $420 2013 $240-245 $248-250 $250 $245-247 2012 $112 $121-122 $200-210 $254-255 2011 $112-113 $113 $120 $118 2010 $128-130 $122-124 $120 $116-118 2009 $58-62 $56-58 $75 $115-120 2008 $65 $83 $87-88 $75-76 2007 $76-77 $71-73 $68-69 $65-66 2006 $56 $60-61 $73 $82-83 2005 $86-87 $79-80 $70-72 $63 (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Louise Heavens)