Clarification of copper grade A cathode, equivalent-grade cathode premium assessment specifications

Fastmarkets has clarified the specifications of its copper grade A cathode and non exchange-deliverable equivalent-grade (EQ) copper cathode premiums, to avoid any confusion regarding the deliverable status of its copper cathode assessments.

Fastmarkets uses quality specifications outlined by the London Metal Exchange for assessing copper grade A cathode and EQ copper cathode premiums, but while to copper grade A cathode refers to units being registered for delivery into the exchange, EQ copper cathode is not registered and non-exchange-deliverable as stated in the launch pricing notice.

To avoid any confusion, Fastmarkets has added notes stating “exchange deliverable” to the copper grade A cathode specifications and “non-exchange-deliverable” to the EQ copper cathode specifications, as detailed below, with additions in italics:

The clarification applies to copper grade A cathode and equivalent-grade copper cathode premium assessments for Shanghai, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Europe, and is reflected in our updated methodology.

MB-CU-0405 – Copper grade A cathode premium, in-whs Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – CuCATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: In-warehouse Shanghai port, duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Daily. 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0383 – Copper grade A cathode ER premium, bonded in-whs Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality
: Electro-Refined Grade A cathode 99.9935% min conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 (CuCATH-1)
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: In-warehouse Shanghai port, duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Daily. 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0382 – Copper grade A cathode SXEW premium, bonded in-whs Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 Solvent Extraction-Electro winning Grade A cathode 99.9935% min conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 (Cu-CATH-1)
Quantity: 25 tonnes
Location: In-warehouse Shanghai port, duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Daily. 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0403 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 (Cu CATH-1)
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF Shanghai port, duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Daily, 3-4pm London time
Notes: Assessed by Fastmarkets in Shanghai and/or London, exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0380 – Copper grade A cathode ER premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 Electro-Refined Grade A 99.9935% min conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 (CuCATH-1)
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF Shanghai port, duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Daily. 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0384 – Copper grade A cathode SX-EW premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 Solvent Extraction-Electro winning Grade A cathode 9.9935% min conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 (Cu-CATH-1) 
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF Shanghai port, duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: LC, TT or documents against payment, other terms normalized
Publication: Daily. 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0399 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Southeast Asia, $/tonne
Quality: 
Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – Cu-CATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF ports of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh/ Haiphong), Thailand (Bangkok, Laem Chabang), Malaysia (Johor, Port Klang), Indonesia (Jakarta), duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Weekly. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0386 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Taiwan, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A 99.9935% min copper cathode conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – Cu-CATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF delivery in Taiwanese ports, dutyunpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit, telegraphic transfer or documents against payment, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Once every two weeks. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0404 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif South Korea, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – CuCATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF delivery in main South Korean ports (Busan, Incheon, Gwangyang, Onsan), duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Letter of credit or telegraphic transfer, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Weekly. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Assessed range and single number, exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0412 – Copper EQ cathode premium, cif Shanghai, $/tonne
Quality:
 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications; Ag: 0.0025% max, As: 0.0005% max, Bi: 0.00020% max, Fe: 0.0010% max, Pb: 0.0005% max, S: 0.0015% max, Se: 0.00020% max, Te: 0.00020% max
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF Shanghai
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD per tonne Payment terms: LC, TT or DP other payments normalized to cash
Publication: Weekly. Tuesday 4pm London time
Notes: Non-exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0513 – Copper EQ cathode premium, cif Southeast Asia, $/tonne
Quality:
 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications; Ag: 0.0025% max, As: 0.0005% max, Bi: 0.00020% max, Fe: 0.0010% max, Pb: 0.0005% max, S: 0.0015% max, Se: 0.00020% max, Te: 0.00020% max
Quantity: 25 tonnes
Location: CIF ports of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh/ Haiphong), Thailand (Bangkok, Laem Chabang), Malaysia (Johor, Port Klang), Indonesia (Jakarta), duty-unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: LC, TT, DP or other payments normalized. Publication: Weekly, Tuesday 4pm London time
Notes: Non-exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0411 – Copper EQ cathode premium, cif Europe, $/tonne
Quality:
 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications; Ag: 0.0025% max, As: 0.0005% max, Bi: 0.00020% max, Fe: 0.0010% max, Pb: 0.0005% max, S: 0.0015% max, Se: 0.00020% max, Te: 0.00020% max 
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF Europe
Timing: Within 4 weeks
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: Cash payment, other terms normalized
Publication: Once every two weeks. Tuesday 4pm London time
Notes: Non-exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0369 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Rotterdam, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – CuCATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: CIF delivery in Rotterdam, duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 4 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Cash, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Once every two weeks. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0406 – Copper grade A cathode premium, cif Leghorn, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – CuCATH-1
Quantity: 25 tonnes
Location: CIF delivery in Leghorn (Italy), duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 4 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Cash, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Once every two weeks. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

MB-CU-0372 – Copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany, $/tonne
Quality:
 Grade A cathode 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications BS EN 1978:1998 – CuCATH-1
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: Delivered consumer works in Germany, duty unpaid premium on top of LME cash prices
Timing: Within 4 weeks
Unit: USD/tonne
Payment terms: Cash, other payment terms normalized
Publication: Once every two weeks. Tuesday 3-4pm London time
Notes: Exchange deliverable units

To provide feedback on these premiums or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please contact Sally Zhang by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Sally Zhang, re: Copper cathode premium assessments.”

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

What to read next
The prices that will be affected are AG-SAF-0006 sustainable aviation fuel (SAF max), base cost, exw Netherlands (incl. HBE-IXB credits), $ per tonne, and AG-SAF-0007 sustainable aviation fuel (HVO max), base cost, exw Netherlands (incl. HBE-IXB credits), $ per tonne. Following the update by the Netherlands to its current biofuel mandate ahead of its full implementation of […]
Fastmarkets has suspended its pricing for Iran steel billet and slab exports following the escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran and because relevant, relative pricing data is not immediately available.
The two prices will broaden coverage of the world’s largest graphite flake market, complementing existing Fastmarkets’ graphite flake offerings. The new Chinese domestic prices will provide market participants with additional reference points, capturing unique dynamics of Chinese graphite market, particularly in the wake of graphite export controls that have raised the need for domestic market […]
Fastmarkets published its assessment of the MB-STE-0232 steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton on Thursday March 5, 2026.
Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia price, as part of its annual methodology review process.
Roughly 40,000 tonnes per month of copper cathode that once flowed smoothly into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through Jebel Ali had few options to reroute after the Strait of Hormuz officially closed on Monday March 2, with the only alternative entry points — Khor Fakkan and Fujairah — already straining under the weight of diverted cargo, market sources told Fastmarkets.