Open consultation on adhoc methodology review for soybean CFR China (US Gulf) prices

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on changes proposed to the methodology of its AG-SYB-0005 Soybean CFR China (US Gulf) and AG-SYB-0006 Soybean CFR China (US Gulf) assessments.

Due to the reduced liquidity in that market linked to the combination of seasonal demand patterns and the implementation of cross-border import tariffs between the US and China, Fastmarkets proposes to assess AG-SYB-0005 Soybean CFR China (US Gulf) $/mt and AG-SYB-0006 Soybean CFR China (US Gulf) Premium c$/bu based on its assessments for AG-SYB-0020 Soybean FOB US Gulf $/mt and AG-SYB-0021 Soybean FOB US Gulf Premium c$/bu, freight costs for the US Gulf-China route and current effective Chinese tariffs on US soybean imports.

This consultation, which is open until July 3, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodology continues to reflect the physical market under indexation, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency.

Material changes to Fastmarkets’ methodology linked to this open consultation will be effective from July 17.

You can find the current methodology for global soybean prices here.

Please send responses in writing, preferably in electronic format, to the following address: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “Methodology China Soybeans, 2025.” 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 July 3, 2025, 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 involvea 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.

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