Further extension of consultation period for proposal to launch high-grade nickel matte CIF China payable indicator

Fastmarkets is further extending the consultation period for its proposal to launch a monthly high-grade nickel matte payable indicator, 65-75% nickel contained, cif China, % of official exchange price assessment, following feedback from market participants.

The initial proposal to launch the assessment was published on February 26, but following feedback related to market liquidity Fastmarkets extended the consultation period.

The extended consultation started on March 26, but Fastmarkets again received mixed feedback and has decided to extend the consultation again – this time until May 28. 

The proposed specification for the price is as follows:

High-grade nickel matte payable indicator, 65-75% nickel contained, cif China, % of official exchange price
Quality: 
nickel matte, Ni 65-75%, Fe 6% max
Quantity: Min 100 tonnes
Location: CIF main ports China
Unit: Percentage of official exchange price
Publication: Final Friday of each month, 7pm China time

This price will be part of the Fastmarkets base metals package.

The extended consultation period for this proposed launch starts on April 24 and will end on May 28. The launch will then take place, subject to market feedback, on May 30.

To provide feedback on this proposal or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Dylan Duan by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Dylan Duan, nickel matte, CIF China.” 

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

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

What to read next
The tungsten market was changing, Fastmarkets heard in the week to Wednesday June 24, and in a trading environment that was becoming less globalized and more fragmented, alongside trade tensions between the US and China in particular, the relationship between prices within China and outside the country has shifted.
Fastmarkets has amended its pricing holiday calendar to show Monday June 29, 2026 as a non-publishing day for Black Sea grains and oilseeds prices.
This consultation, which is open until July 27, 2026, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue 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. You can […]
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for MB-CU-0287 Copper concentrates TC index, cif Asia Pacific, $/tonne, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 26 due to a typo.
Fastmarkets has launched a monthly price assessment for medium carbon ferro-manganese in Europe, effective on Friday June 26, following market requests for price transparency.
Fastmarkets has amended the frequency of its MB-NI-0246 Nickel sulfate, cif Japan and Korea, and MB-NI-0247 Nickel sulfate premium, cif Japan and Korea assessments to fortnightly from weekly, effective Friday June 26.