Open consultation on annual methodology review for PIX Pulp Europe, PIX Pulp China Indices

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its PIX Pulp Europe (gross) and PIX Pulp China (net) indices as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

This consultation, which is open until March 6, 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.

Many market stakeholders have expressed concern about current discount levels reaching close to 50% in Europe. To this effect, Fastmarkets would like to receive feedback on whether the current discount levels have grown too high, and open-ended feedback on potential remedies moving forward. IMPORTANT: No changes would be made without extensive stakeholder consultation through a formal process.

You can find the current methodology for PIX Pulp Europe and PIX Pulp China here: https://www.fastmarkets.com/methodology/forest-products/

The prices subject to this annual review are as follows:

Please send responses in writing, preferably in electronic format, to the following address: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading ‘PIX Pulp Europe and PIX Pulp China annual review, 2025’. Please specify whether your response is confidential. Opinions offered in confidential responses may be referenced but will not be attributed in any way.

Fastmarkets will publish the outcome of this methodology review by March 20, 2025, including a summary of the feedback – with the exception of those responses marked as confidential. Any proposals to make material changes, discontinue or launch prices will involve a separate market consultation, the length of which will depend on how substantial the change is.

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

What to read next
Fastmarkets hosted a pivotal discussion recently on the state of the global pulp and paper market. While the calendar pages have turned, the realities outlined during that session have only crystallized further. The pulp industry remains in a precarious balance where supply-side mechanics – rather than surging demand – are dictating the tempo of the market.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-MN-0008 Manganese sulfate 32% Mn min, battery grade, exw mainland China, price assessment for Thursday January 22, 2026, was delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The following price was affected: MB-MN-0008 – Manganese sulfate 32% Mn min, battery grade, exw mainland China The price is a […]
Fastmarkets invites feedback on the methodology of its MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea price and MB-LI-0029 lithium carbonate, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea price. The consultation will consider observed pricing divergences between China, Japan and South Korea.
As previously announced, Fastmarkets has discontinued its legacy assessments for bleached and unbleached European sack kraft as of January 22 2026.
Following a market consultation, Fastmarkets launched European average prices for bleached and unbleached sack kraft with effect from January 22 2026 to complement our existing country-specific sack kraft assessments.
The proposed amendments will see the publication time of the two FOT Qingdao indices for MB-IRO-0011 iron ore 61% Fe fines, fot Qingdao, yuan/wet tonne, and MB-IRO-0022 iron ore 61% Fe fines, fot Qingdao, $/dmt conversion change from daily at 6:30pm Singapore time to daily at 6:30pm Shanghai time, as well as to be aligned with the Chinese pricing […]