US aluminum billet prices have firmed in recent weeks as extrusion demand remains strong, 

but most extruders remain unconcerned about potential supply issues and are not inclined 

to book ahead for 2018. 

A couple of suppliers, by contrast, said they have already made a start on 2018 contracts, 

and say spot supply appears to have tightened slightly. 

"Extrusion business is the best I have seen in years ... some lead times are out almost 20 w

eeks," one extruder said Tuesday. "Business is so good, it is bad!" 

The Platts weekly spot 6063 billet upcharge was assessed at 9-10.5 cents/lb plus P1020 Tra

nsaction  price, delivered US Midwest, last week, up from 9-10 cents in July. The assessment 

is for North American primary or secondary 6063 billet, 7-8-inch diameter, net-30 day paymen

t terms. 

A  remelt  billet  producer  said  he saw spot sales at 10-10.5 cents, up from 10 cents in early 

August, while a trader heard an extruder had to pay 11 cents for spot billet due to issues with 

imports. "Demand is very good," the remelter said. 

The extruder, who also casts billet, said he saw billet and log upcharges going up in the short 

term and long term. "Nobody has any capacity, and the imported stuff has dried up," he said. 

Another  casting  extruder  said  he had "heard of increases," and saw spot upcharges at 10-

10.5 cents for 8-to-10-inch diameters. 

Another remelter said he had not made any spot sales, but added: "We are filled up with con

tract customers who continually want more that we can't satisfy." 

An import billet seller, however, said  he  still saw major suppliers selling at 9-9.25 cents in the 

competitive  Ohio  area,  and  two  Midwest extruders confirmed that they saw 9-9.5 cents ava

ilable. 

"Spot is probably 9-9.5 cents," said one of the Midwest extruders. "I know 9.5 cents for sure is 

available  because  we  did some for August delivery." The other said he had not gone out for 

any spot  billet,  but  was  hearing  9.5  cents offered. "I haven't heard any 10 cents," he said

. "Earlier in the year it was like 9-9.25 cents, so it's up maybe half a cent." 

The  first  extruder  agreed.  "I  could  see  the  cheap  numbers going away, but only back to 

where we think the market is, which is to 9-10.5 cents," he said.