Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its Middle East PIX Packaging GCC indices via an open consultation process between April 17 and May 20 2026.

The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes, which took place between April 2 and May 11. The purpose of the change is to align the publication times to the activity in the relevant markets and ensure that subscribers receive timely and accurate pricing information. The affected […]

Procurement and supply chain managers face new challenges as wooden pallet prices surge. Understand the key drivers behind this volatility to improve budget planning and supplier negotiations.

The amendment follows the decision made on May 14, after a consultation period for the proposed changes which took place between April 3 and May 11. The changes were first proposed in a pricing note published on April 3.  The purpose of the changes is to align the publication times to the activity in the […]

The price will be published weekly on Friday 5-6pm Shanghai time, instead of 7pm Shanghai time previously. The amendment aims to better reflect the prices of technology and energy metals (TEM) in the Chinese market and ensure that subscribers receive timely and accurate pricing information. The amendment was first announced in a pricing notice published […]

Fastmarkets has launched three weekly wheat freight rate assessments — Ukraine-Egypt, CVB-Egypt and Russia-Saudi Arabia — and has clarified that its existing Black Sea-North Africa freight assessment refers to the Russia-Egypt route and its Black Sea-Persian Gulf assessment refers to the Russia-Iran route. The Russia-Egypt assessment will also transition from Supramax to Handy-sized vessels. All changes are effective Wednesday May 20, 2026.

South Korea has stepped up its efforts to support its steel sector, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and tariff pressures elsewhere, by including the sector in a $54 billion support package for key industries in the country, Fastmarkets understands.

Recent Middle Eastern tensions and a sharp drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could present a major opportunity for Russian pulp producers.

Fastmarkets changed the timestamp for its daily used cooking oil flexi-tank, fob China and used cooking oil, bulk, fob China price assessments from 4:30pm London time to 4:30pm Singapore time effective Wednesday May 20, 2026, as a result of an open consultation.

The proposal follows Fastmarkets’ observations that the commodity sees inactive spot liquidity and low volatility in prices. The proposed new specifications for the prices are as follows, with the amendments in italics: MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, $/tonneQuality: Accepted by buyer for use in battery applications with chemical composition: Ni content, base 22.3% […]