PRICING NOTICE: Delayed publication of cobalt price assessment

The publication of Fastmarkets’ alloy grade and standard grade cobalt price assessments for August 7 were delayed because of extenuating circumstances - namely, an unusually high level of market activity related to industry developments.

Glencore’s decision on Wednesday 7 to shut its Mutanda copper-cobalt mine by the end of 2019 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) triggered an unusually high level of deals being concluded in the spot market while consumers and distributors sought to purchase material ahead of the end of the year.

The shutdown of Mutanda by the end of this year could alter the supply balance in the cobalt market in 2020. Consumers seeking material now to avoid paying higher prices towards the 2020; this complicated the gathering of pricing data from the market on Wednesday.

Fastmarkets assessed alloy grade and standard grade cobalt prices at $12.50-14 per lb and at $12.25-13.95 per lb, in-warehouse, on Wednesday August 7, both up from the previous assessment of $12.40-13 per lb and $12.20-13 per lb respectively.

To provide feedback on the delayed publication of the cobalt price assessment, please contact Martim Facada by email at pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading ‘Re: FAO: Martim Facada, delayed publication of cobalt price assessment.’

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

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected the pricing rationale for MB-AL-0302 aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, ddp North Germany (Ruhr region), $/tonne, which was published incorrectly on Friday April 19. No prices were corrected.
The low-carbon aluminium differential in the US made its first move on Friday April 5 since Fastmarkets launched it five months ago.
Brazil's aluminium industry is further enhancing its sustainability by boosting renewable energy use and recycling, while mitigating risk from high-carbon imports
German copper producer Aurubis is among the least likely to consider reducing capacity despite record low treatment charges (TCs), according to its chief executive officer
European copper demand, particularly for wire rod, remains strong and seems to be outpacing broader macro-economic growth in the region, the chief executive officer of German producer Aurubis has said.
The process to place the smaller and less efficient of the two processing plants at Los Bronces on care and maintenance is expected to be completed by mid-2024 and comes as the company pushes value over volume, the chief executive officer of Anglo American Chile said