Open consultation on Fastmarkets’ non-ferrous materials, industrial minerals methodologies

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on its pricing methodology and product specifications for non-ferrous materials and industrial minerals, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

This consultation, which is open until Wednesday November 6, 2024, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical markets in base metals, minor metals, ores & alloys, rare earths and industrial minerals, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) principles for price reporting agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency.

View the Non-ferrous Metals methodology here: fm-mb-non-ferrous-methodology-specifications.pdf

View the Rare Earths methodology here: fm-mb-rare-earths.pdf

View the Chrome Ore Index methodology here: – fm-mb-chrome-ore-index.pdf

View the Industrial Minerals methodology here: fm-im-industrial-minerals.pdf

The following prices are also currently subject to separate live consultations: 

MB-LI-0038 lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, technical and industrial grade, spot price range exw domestic China, yuan/tonne

MB-AL-0052 aluminum 6063 extrusion billet premium, delivered Midwest US, US cents/lb

Please send responses in writing, preferably in electronic format, to the following address: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Janie Davies/Jon Stibbs re: Non-ferrous and industrial minerals methodologies.” 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 November 11, 2024, 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/metals

What to read next
Over a decade since its first attempt, Glencore appears to have taken another tilt at Rio Tinto.
Fastmarkets will not publish any price assessments for US animal fats and oils; animal proteins; biomass-based diesel; hide and leather; grain and feed ingredients; organic/non-GMO; and vegetable oils on Monday January 20 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the US and the consequent closure for the day of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue its MB-NI-0141 nickel min 99.8% warrant premium, in-whs North Europe, price assessment.
Fastmarkets proposes to launch two price assessments for nickel warrant premiums for the European market.
Participants in the market for copper scrap and blister in China, the world’s largest importer of copper raw materials, expect there to be fiercer competition for material in 2025, industry sources told Fastmarkets in the week to Thursday January 9.
Fastmarkets proposes to launch monthly price assessments for Polish recycled containerboard, including testliner 2 140 g, testliner 3 140 g and recycled fluting 105 g.