Open consultation on Fastmarkets’ non-ferrous materials, industrial minerals methodologies

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on its pricing methodology and product specifications for non-ferrous materials and industrial minerals, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

This consultation, which is open until Wednesday November 6, 2024, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical markets in base metals, minor metals, ores & alloys, rare earths and industrial minerals, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) principles for price reporting agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency.

View the Non-ferrous Metals methodology here: fm-mb-non-ferrous-methodology-specifications.pdf

View the Rare Earths methodology here: fm-mb-rare-earths.pdf

View the Chrome Ore Index methodology here: – fm-mb-chrome-ore-index.pdf

View the Industrial Minerals methodology here: fm-im-industrial-minerals.pdf

The following prices are also currently subject to separate live consultations: 

MB-LI-0038 lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, technical and industrial grade, spot price range exw domestic China, yuan/tonne

MB-AL-0052 aluminum 6063 extrusion billet premium, delivered Midwest US, US cents/lb

Please send responses in writing, preferably in electronic format, to the following address: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Janie Davies/Jon Stibbs re: Non-ferrous and industrial minerals methodologies.” Please specify whether your response is confidential. Opinions offered in confidential responses may be referenced but will not be attributed in any way.

Fastmarkets will publish the outcome of this methodology review by November 11, 2024, including a summary of the feedback – with the exception of those responses marked as confidential. Any proposals to make material changes, discontinue or launch prices will involve a separate market consultation, the length of which will depend on how substantial the change is.

To see all Fastmarkets’ pricing methodology and specification documents, go to: https://www.fastmarkets.com/methodology/metals

What to read next
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-BMS-0014 Black mass, NCM/NCA, payable indicator, cobalt, domestic, exw USA, % payable Fastmarkets’ standard-grade cobalt price assessment and MB-BMS-0015 Black mass, NCM/NCA, payable indicator, nickel, exw USA, % payable LME Nickel cash official price assessment for Wednesday November 20 was delayed due to reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale and trade log for MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea, which was published incorrectly on Friday November 22.
Market feedback shows that these two commodities see active spot liquidity and great price volatility. Therefore, a higher assessment frequency enables Fastmarkets to reflect their spot market dynamics in a more timely manner. The new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendment in italics: MB-LI-0036 Lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, […]
Fastmarkets proposes to lower the frequency of its assessments for MB-AL-0389 aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, US Midwest and MB-AL-0390 aluminium low-carbon differential value-added product US Midwest. Fastmarkets also proposes to extend the timing window of these same assessments to include any transaction data concluded within up to 18 months.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify details around the following aspects of the pricing methodology for MB-AL-0343 aluminium P1020A (MJP) spot premium, cif Japan, $ per tonne.
Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-AL-0399 aluminium scrap, old sheet (Taint/Tabor), cut sheared, 5-8% attachments, cif India price assessment, which was published incorrectly on Wednesday November 20.