Launch of Cobalt in MHP CIF CJK prices

After an extended consultation period, Fastmarkets has launched cobalt in mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) pricing to support the existing nickel in MHP pricing.

These price assessments will be daily and will allow Fastmarkets to provide greater transparency for the value of MHP.

The rapid growth in the production of MHP in Indonesia and other countries has resulted in its increased use in the battery raw materials supply chain, with the nickel and cobalt content increasingly being used in the production of battery-grade sulfates.

Fastmarkets research currently forecasts that MHP will contribute 15,500 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide in 2023, rising to 29,000 tonnes by 2025.

The specifications for the prices will be as follows:

MB-CO-0024 Cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate payable indicator, % cobalt metal standard grade in-whs Rotterdam, cif China, Japan, and South Korea
Quality: 30-45% nickel min/max, 1-6% cobalt min/max, 4% Zn max, 4% Cu max, 9% Mn max, 5% Mg max, 5% S max, 0.5% Fe max, moisture content 35- 40%
Quantity: Min 100 tonnes
Location: CIF major ports China, Japan and South Korea (other ports normalized)
Timing: 45 days
Unit: % of cobalt metal standard grade in-whs Rotterdam
Publication: Daily, 4pm London time

MB-CO-0025 Cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate, outright price, cif China, Japan, and South Korea, $/tonne
Quality: 30-45% nickel min/max, 1-6% cobalt min/max, 4% Zn max, 4% Cu max, 9% Mn max, 5% Mg max, 5% S max, 0.5% Fe max, moisture content 35- 40%
Quantity: Min 100 tonnes
Location: CIF major ports China, Japan and South Korea (other ports normalized)
Timing: 45 days
Unit: USD per tonne, inferred basis of the payable range or expressed by participants
Publication: Daily, 4pm London time
Notes: In the absence of data, Fastmarkets will calculate this price, based upon the payable level to the cobalt metal standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam price of that day.

These prices will be part of the Fastmarkets minor metals package.

To provide feedback on this price, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this price, please contact Callum Perry by email at pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Callum Perry, re Cobalt MHP prices.”

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.