Amendment to iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines index specifications

Fastmarkets has decided to amend the base specifications of its iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines index to more closely align with the specifications of Brazilian high-grade fines.

Fastmarkets’ index for iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao, $/tonne [MB-IRO-0009] tracks the spot prices of Brazil-origin 65% Fe iron ore fines in the CFR China spot market, with its base specifications set to match the prevailing quality of the Carajas fines product, IOCJ.

Following a three-month consultation, Fastmarkets will amend the silica, alumina and phosphorus base specifications of the index in response to an observed change in the specifications of Carajas fines. The amendment aims to realign the index base specifications to that of the Carajas fines to ensure the index specification remains representative of the ore grade it seeks to reflect.

The amendment is not anticipated to impact the index price level, as analysis suggests that any expected price impacts resulting from the change in impurity specifications balance out, that is, the rise in silica base specification is offset by the reduction in alumina and phosphorus base specifications.

The previous specifications of this index were:
Fe content: Base 65%, range 63.5-66%
Silica: Base 1.7%
Alumina: Base 1.5%
Phosphorus: Base 0.08%
Sulfur: Base 0.01%
Moisture: Base 9%

The amended specifications are:
Fe content: Base 65%, range 63.5-66%
Silica: Base 2.2%
Alumina: Base 1.4%
Phosphorus: Base 0.075%
Sulfur: Base 0.01%
Moisture: Base 9%

The amendment to Fastmarkets’ iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines index takes effect on Monday January 1, 2024.

To provide feedback on the index, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please email pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Jane Fan, re: Iron Ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines index.”

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

What to read next
Fastmarkets is launching two price assessments for palm oil mill effluent (POME) for loading out of ports in Malaysia in Indonesia, to meet growing interest from biofuel producers and consumers in Europe and other parts of Asia. The first publication of these two price assessments will be on Thursday December 4 and will be published […]
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the methodology for assessing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) base cost of production in the US, effective January 5, 2026.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify the conversion factor for Singapore Exchange (SGX) iron ore derivative forward curves data used to assess its low-grade and high-grade iron ore indices.
Following consultations and expressions of support from a broad range of market participants, Fastmarkets has decided to launch new price assessments of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) and bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) pulp spot prices for Europe, starting in January 2026.
Fastmarkets will include EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) costs in its secondary aluminium billet premium, ddp Europe (MB-AL-0383) and its primary aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, in-whs dp Rotterdam (MB-AL-0002) assessments from January 1, 2026, when the definitive period of the EU’s CBAM is set to begin. The inclusion of CBAM costs with MB-AL-0383 and MB-AL-0002 will enable […]
The decision follows a consultation period that started on October 28 and ended on November 25. The price assessments in question are:MB-STS-0008 Stainless steel scrap 18/8 solids, import, cif main European port, € per tonneMB-STS-0009 Stainless steel scrap 18/8 turnings, import, cif main European port, € per tonneMB-STS-0261 Stainless steel scrap 316 solids, import, cif main European port, € per […]