PRICING NOTICE: Launch of equivalent-grade copper cathode premium assessments

Following a month-long consultation period and several months of pre-consultation research, Fastmarkets will launch a fortnightly price assessment for non-exchange-deliverable equivalent-grade (EQ) copper cathode premiums/discounts starting from Tuesday November 19.

The cif Europe and cif China price assessments will support Fastmarkets’ current benchmarks in Grade A exchange-deliverable markets.

Demand and pricing interest in EQ cathodes has risen since China’s decision to restrict high-quality scrap metal imports and since copper processing companies began to upgrade technology to deal with lower-grade material. 

The specifications for the premium assessments are as follows:

Copper cathode equivalent grade, cif Europe
Quality: 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications; Ag: 0.0025% max, As: 0.0005% max, Bi: 0.00020% max, Fe: 0.0010% max, Pb: 0.0005% max, S: 0.0015% max, Se: 0.00020% max, Te: 0.00020% max
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: cif Europe
Timing: Within 4 weeks
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: Cash payment, other terms normalized
Publication: Fortnightly, Tuesday 4pm London time

Copper cathode equivalent grade, cif Shanghai
Quality: 99.9935% min copper conforming to LME specifications; Ag: 0.0025% max, As: 0.0005% max, Bi: 0.00020% max, Fe: 0.0010% max, Pb: 0.0005% max, S: 0.0015% max, Se: 0.00020% max, Te: 0.00020% max
Quantity: Min 25 tonnes
Location: cif Shanghai
Timing: Within 6 weeks
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: LC, TT or DP, other payments normalized to cash
Publication: Fortnightly, Tuesday 4pm London time

Fastmarkets hopes to bring needed price discovery and transparency to these markets and encourages those participating as buyers or sellers to get in touch with either Hassan Butt or Sally Zhang by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading ‘FAO: Hassan Butt, re: Copper cathode equivalent grade cif Europe’ or ‘FAO: Sally Zhang, re: Copper cathode equivalent grade cif Shanghai’.

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

What to read next
The publication of Fastmarkets’ molybdenum drummed molybdic oxide – in-whs Busan, MB-FEO-0004, and in-whs Rotterdam, MB-FEO-0003 – and ferro-molybdenum 65% Mo min, in-whs Rotterdam, MB-FEO-0001, price assessments were delayed because of slow data processing on Friday May 23. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The publication of these prices was delayed for 12 minutes. The […]
Fastmarkets invited feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for PIX Packaging Europe price indices via an open consultation process between April 24 and May 22, 2025. This consultation was done as part of our published annual methodology review process.
No feedback was received during the consultation period and therefore no changes will be made to the methodology at this stage. This consultation sought 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 […]
This consultation, which is open until June 25, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the non-indexed physical market, 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. You can find […]
This price assessment aims to enhance transparency in the Indonesian coke market. Fastmarkets has observed a significant volume of Indonesian coke entering the global market in recent months, establishing Indonesia as a key exporter of coke worldwide since 2023. In the first seven months of 2024, Poland, China and Indonesia were the top three coke exporters globally.  […]
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.