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The proposal can be found here.
Why has Fastmarkets issued a price consultation for the 65% Fe iron ore index?
This is to ensure that the 65% Fe iron ore index continues to reflect the reality of the physical spot market, as well as to capture more data points for the index.
Will the index still reflect the same market after the changes take effect?
Yes. The Fastmarkets 65% Fe iron ore index will continue to reflect spot market transactions in 65% Fe iron ore sinter fines. Fastmarkets will introduce normalization to keep the index representative of the existing base specifications. Concentrates and pellet feed products remain outside the scope of the index.
How does Fastmarkets handle index-linked deals in the 65% Fe index?
Fastmarkets presently uses the Singapore Exchange 65% Fe forward curve as its primary reference for converting index-linked deals to fixed-price equivalents when iron ore products are traded against a 65% Fe index. If liquidity on that curve is insufficient to support a robust reference price, Fastmarkets will continue to fall back on using the SGX 61% Fe forward curve, adjusting for the differential between the two grades using the most recent SGX daily settlement prices for the 61% and 65% Fe futures contracts.
Market participants who have their own valuations of fixed-price equivalents are encouraged to submit their own indications of the tradeable value of the product in question. Such indications will be incorporated into the index at the specified minimum tonnage weighting.
How does the normalization process work?
Normalization translates prices for different iron ore brands and origins back to the index’s base specifications, ensuring like-for-like comparability. The process applies two adjustments:
1. Brand coefficients, updated monthly, serve as a composite proxy for quality differences between products. Monthly updates are warranted at this stage because volumes from new supply sources are still growing and the number of brands expected to feature in the index in the near-to-medium term remains limited.
2. Iron content adjustments, applied using the Fastmarkets 65% Fe value-in-use curve, account for variations in Fe grade.
Why has the base specification not been changed?
Fastmarkets’ high-grade iron ore index represents the prevailing merchantable material in the physical spot market. As new high-grade iron ore supply enters the market, Fastmarkets continues to monitor the market adoption and specifications of new material.
A change to the base specification would require clear evidence that market liquidity, spot activity and participant acceptance have shifted structurally. Fastmarkets is always reviewing its methodology and accepting feedback to ensure our indices reflect the physical spot market.
Given this, Fastmarkets does not consider it appropriate to alter the base specification at this time.
How will future supply from other geographies be treated?
New supply sources will not be incorporated automatically. Fastmarkets will first observe trading activity over a defined period to confirm that specifications are consistent and trade flows have stabilized. Once sufficient evidence exists that the material qualifies as high-grade iron ore sinter fines within the index’s specification range, Fastmarkets will apply the same normalization framework before including it in the index.
Who can I contact to learn more about these changes?
Please send all queries to pricing@fastmarkets.com and steelrawmaterials@fastmarkets.com and add the subject heading “FAO: Paul Lim re: 65% Fe iron ore index.”