Following a two-week consultation period, which concluded on Thursday February 5, Fastmarkets has amended the publication time of the indices for MB-IRO-0011 iron ore 61% Fe fines, fot Qingdao, yuan/wet tonne, and MB-IRO-0022 iron ore 61% Fe fines, fot Qingdao, $/dmt conversion from daily at 6:30pm Singapore time to daily at 6:30pm Shanghai time, as well as to […]

The rationales for the two indices were not in the appropriate sections and a discard judgement was omitted.  The rationales have been corrected as follows: Pricing rationale for MB-IRO-0191 on 06 Feb 2026Fastmarkets’ index for iron ore 61% Fe fines, CFR Qingdao fell by $1.36 per tonne from the previous day. The price movement was based on […]

The United States convened more than 50 countries in Washington this week for a critical minerals summit that delivered a flurry of new initiatives designed to reshape the geopolitics — and pricing mechanics — of minerals essential to semiconductors, electric vehicles and the defense supply chain.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ European aluminium billet premiums assessments for Friday February 6 was delayed because of a procedural error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.

Glencore’s share price fell sharply on Thursday February 5 after Rio Tinto confirmed it was no longer pursuing a potential merger, ending weeks of speculation about a combination that would have created one of the world’s largest mining companies.

Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-GD-0001 Gadolinium oxide 99.99%-99.999% fob China, $/kg price, which was published incorrectly.

The US laid out its strongest push yet to reshape global critical minerals supply chains at the inaugural Critical Mineral Ministerial in Washington on Wednesday February 4, where senior officials detailed plans for an allied trade bloc built on reference prices and enforceable price floors – a potential turning point for small, strategically important markets such as tungsten.

A new US initiative to establish a stockpile of critical minerals for the civilian economy could add pressure to already stretched supply, market participants told Fastmarkets on Tuesday February 3 and Wednesday February 4.

In 2026, the North American wood products industry enters a year of cautious stabilization.

The proposal to increase the publication frequency from monthly to weekly comes amid increased volatility of copper on the London Metal Exchange, while copper scrap discounts have been shifting on a more regular basis. This more frequent assessment will enable Fastmarkets to reflect market dynamics in a timelier manner, as well as capture more spot […]