PRICING NOTICE: Amendment of Fastmarkets’ cif Shanghai ferro-chrome index

Fastmarkets will change its cif Shanghai ferro-chrome index to a single-figure price assessment and change the location from Shanghai to main Chinese ports.

After a consultation, Fastmarkets will change the specifications of its ferro-chrome index 50% Cr import, cif Shanghai, $/Ib to an assessment.

Consolidation in the ferro-chrome market means the number of sell-side data sources has fallen since Fastmarkets started its ferro-chrome index in 2012.

Indices – tonnage-weighted average calculations – best work in liquid markets that can reliably contribute sufficiently robust indications to the calculation.

The lower volume of data points in relation to the imported ferro-chrome market in China has made the use of an index less suitable. Low availability of data and the calculation process in an index mean the price is more susceptible to being moved by low volume of trade information than if it was an assessment.

Illiquid markets with a relatively low number of participants are more accurately reflected as an assessment. Therefore, Fastmarkets will from Friday December 6 use an assessment process rather than calculate an index.

A single-figure assessment will be adopted rather than a range because a single price provides simplicity to the market and cohesion for users.

Additionally, Fastmarkets proposes to amend the delivery port from “Shanghai (other ports normalized)” to “Main Chinese ports”. This proposal reflects that Shanghai is not currently a major destination port for imported ferro-chrome in China.

The new specification will be as follows:

Assessment: Ferro-chrome 50% Cr import, cif main Chinese ports, $/Ib contained Cr
Quality: 10-100mm lump. Chrome base 50%, range 48-52%; carbon base 7%, max 9%; silicon base 3%, max 6%; phosphorous max 0.03%; sulfur max 0.06%
Quantity: Min 1,000 tonnes minimum
Location: cif main Chinese ports
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD per lb
Payment terms: LC at sight
Publication: Weekly. Friday 3pm London time
Notes: Seaborne, all origins.
Data history from May 2012

All historical data relating to this price prior to the amendment will remain available in the pricing section of the Fastmarkets MB website.

A consultation for this proposed amendment began on November 4, with changes taking place from December 6.

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 Jon Stibbs or Susan Zou by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading ‘FAO: Jon Stibbs/Susan Zou, re: Ferro-chrome index‘.

To see all Fastmarkets’ pricing methodology and specification documents go www.fastmarkets.com/about-us/methodology

What to read next
All of Fastmarkets’ China domestic price assessments published in its PPI Asia publication and the Fastmarkets platform will continue. The full list of UM Paper-branded prices to be discontinued can be found via the link below: https://www.fastmarkets.com/uploads/2025/07/All-UMPaper-Discontinuing-Markets-2025-1.pdf Fastmarkets remains fully committed to delivering trusted, independent, and transparent pricing for the Chinese pulp and paper market. Fastmarkets will continue […]
The publication of Fastmarkets’ AG-PLM-0019 refined bleached deodorised (RBD) palm olein, cfr South China assessment for Thursday July 24 was delayed due to a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets has launched a MB-STE-0935 Steel reinforcing bar (rebar), differential to shredded auto scrap Chicago, fob mill US, $/gross ton to complement its existing suite of steelmaking raw materials to finished product differentials on Wednesday July 23. This strategic launch is designed to offer the market a single reference price denoting the differential between steel […]
The following prices were affected:MB-BI-0001 bismuth 99.99% Bi min, in-whs Rotterdam, $ per lbMB-CD-0001 cadmium 99.95% min, cif global ports, cents per lbMB-CD-0002 cadmium 99.99% min, cif global ports, cents per lb. These prices are part of Fastmarkets’ minor metals package. For more information, or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of these prices, or if you […]
After a consultation period from June 20 to July 18, Fastmarkets made the decision to discontinue these assessments because the outright prices no longer reflect market conditions, with the market shifting toward payables as the dominant pricing method. The affected prices are:MB-NIO-0003 nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate outright price, cif China, Japan and South Korea, $ per tonneMB-NIO-0005 nickel […]
The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-CO-0004 cobalt alloy grade, in-whs Rotterdam and MB-CO-0005 cobalt standard grade, in-whs Rotterdam assessments for Wednesday July 23 was delayed because of a system error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.