Negotiations heat up in US VAP market: Billet, PFA and wire rod premiums diverge

“Mating season” continues in earnest, with time starting to run out on traditional timetables for settlement.

Extrusions
Market
Midwest premium
Primary aluminum
Rolled products
Secondary
Smelter

Most value-added-product (VAP) contracts are concluded on annual terms commencing Jan. 1 of each year. Pricing is done on a month-prior-to-month-of-shipment basis, meaning that January 2026 contracts are priced on the average of December 2025.

Extrusions
Market
Midwest premium
Primary aluminum
Rolled products
Secondary
Smelter

Greg Wittbecker

Veteran aluminum executive Greg brings over 40 years of leadership experience from Alcoa, Cargill, and CRU. He offers rare depth in commercial strategy, policy analysis, and industry evolution, with expertise spanning the trading floor to the boardroom. You can reach Greg at Greg.Wittbecker@crugroup.com or 865-621-4564.