Open consultation on IOSCO-audited steelmaking raw materials price indices

Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the methodology for its audited steelmaking raw materials indices, as part of its announced annual methodology review process.

The consultation, which is open until Friday March 6, seeks to ensure that our audited methodologies and price specifications continue to reflect the physical markets for steelmaking raw materials, 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.

The prices subject to this annual review are as follows:

MB-IRO-0191 Iron ore 61% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-IRO-0008 Iron ore 62% Fe fines, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-IRO-0144 Iron ore 62% Fe low-alumina fines, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-IRO-0009 Iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-IRO-0193 Iron ore 62% Australia-origin lump ore premium, cfr Qingdao, US cents/dmtu

MB-IRO-0187 Iron ore 67.5% Fe pellet feed premium, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-IRO-0188 Iron ore 67.5% Fe pellet feed, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt

MB-COA-0003 Premium hard coking coal, fob eastern Australia, $/wmt

To provide feedback on the annual review of the above-listed prices, please contact pricing@fastmarkets.com and steelrawmaterials@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Norman Fong/Bella Cheng, re: audited steelmaking raw materials IOSCO methodologies.”

Fastmarkets will publish the outcome of this annual review by March 12 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 the Fastmarkets methodology page.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its FP-PP-0002 polypropylene polymer, fiber grade, free delivered Europe, €/kg assessment, which was published incorrectly on July 1 due to a typo.
Fastmarkets has corrected its assessment for AG-CRN-0077 Corn FOB US PNW $/mt, published incorrectly on June 24 due to a procedural error.
Fastmarkets has launched a new iron ore blast-furnace (BF)-pellet quarterly contract premium and a monthly premium indicator for the European market, effective July 1, 2026.
Argentina’s steel industry is showing signs of recovery in 2026, but the rebound remains uneven, with stronger crude steel output contrasting with weak finished steel demand, depressed long steel consumption and renewed pressure from imports.
Fastmarkets proposes to narrow the optimized range for MB-IRO-0020 iron ore fines, % Si VIU, cfr Qingdao, $/dmt, effective from August 3.
A tentative easing of tensions in the Middle East has failed to convince market participants that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will quickly return to pre-conflict norms, panellists said at Fastmarkets' Iron Ore Decoded 2026 conference, held during Singapore International Ferrous Week.