Proposal to reduce publication frequency of Fastmarkets’ European stainless steel assessments

Fastmarkets proposes to reduce the publication frequency of its European stainless steel price assessments from weekly to monthly.

These are:
Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet 2mm grade 304 transaction domestic, delivered North Europe, €/tonne (MB-STS-0281)
Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet 2mm grade 304 base price domestic, delivered Northern Europe, €/tonne (MB-STS-0007)
Stainless steel bright bar grade 304 base price domestic, delivered Europe, €/tonne (MB-STS-0005)
Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet base price 316 2mm domestic, delivered Europe, €/tonne (MB-STS-0002)

The proposal is based on feedback from market participants as well as Fastmarkets’ own observations and analysis that price volatility in these markets would be appropriately reflected by monthly price assessments.

The stainless steel market in Europe is also heavily influenced by alloy surcharges, which are set by steelmakers on a monthly basis. As such, base prices and transaction prices also tend to move on a monthly basis.

Surcharges are generally published by the beginning of each month. Fastmarkets therefore proposes to publish its stainless steel prices on the first Friday of each month.

The consultation period for this proposed amendment starts from Monday May 15 and will end on Monday June 12. The amendment will then take place, subject to market feedback, on Friday June 16.

To provide feedback on this price or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please contact Ross Yeo by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Ross Yeo, re: European stainless steel.”

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

What to read next
After a consultation period, Fastmarkets has amended the pricing frequency of its MB-STE-0141 steel billet import, cfr Manila, $/tonne, price assessment from a daily basis to twice per week.
Fastmarkets invites further feedback on proposed amendments to its newly launched MB-NI-0256 Nickel low-carbon briquette premium, cif global, price assessment.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend its MB-STE-0782 steel billet export, fob ports Iran and MB-STS-0019 steel slab export, fob ports Iran assessments.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend its MB-STE-0896 steel slab import, cif Italy, $/tonne price assessment.
The publication of the following prices was delayed on Tuesday April 30 due to technical issues. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ cobalt hydroxide, min 30% co, inferred price was delayed on Tuesday April 30 due to a technical error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.