PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to amend Metal Bulletin’s 62% Fe Iron Ore China Port Stocks Index specification

Metal Bulletin is proposing to refine the existing coverage of its 62% Fe Iron Ore China Port Stocks Index (MBIOI-CPS) to align with changes proposed to its seaborne 62% Fe index.

Subject to market feedback, the specification for the MBIOI-CPS will be amended to include only data for products in the mid-grade bracket – those with an Fe content of 60-63.5% – provided it also meets the other specification requirements for the index.

This is in line with the changes proposed to the Metal Bulletin 62% Fe Iron Ore Index for seaborne materials.

Data will still be normalized to the index base level, which would remain unchanged from its current specification.

The full proposed new specifications for the MBIOI-CPS would be as follows:

Price: RMB per wet metric tonne, free on truck
Material origin: All
Fe content: Base 62%, range 60-63.50%
Silica: Base 3.50%, maximum 8.0%
Alumina: Base 2.0%, maximum 4.0%
Phosphorus: Base 0.10%, maximum 0.15%
Sulfur: Base 0.02%, maximum 0.06%
Moisture: Base 8%, maximum 10%
Granularity: Base size >90% <6.3mm, at least 90% <10mm, at most 40% <0.15mm
Trade size: Minimum 500 tonnes
Payment terms: Payment at sight, other terms normalized to base
Delivery port: Base Qingdao, normalized for any other Chinese mainland sea port
Delivery period: Within two weeks
Publication: Daily at 6.30pm Singapore time

The consultation period for this proposed amendment will end two months from the date of this pricing notice, on September 24, 2018, with changes taking place, subject to market feedback, from October 1, 2018.

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 Peter Hannah by email at: pricing@metalbulletin.com. Please add the subject heading ‘FAO: Peter Hannah, re: MBIOI-CPS.’

To see all Metal Bulletin’s pricing methodology and specification documents go to: https://www.metalbulletin.com/prices/pricing-methodology

What to read next
India’s fast-growing economy, powered by strong consumption, booming e-commerce, and export-focused policies, is driving structural growth in corrugated packaging demand across FMCG, retail, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and fresh produce. The ban on single-use plastics and a broader sustainability push have accelerated the shift toward paper-based, recyclable packaging. Our assessment brings clarity to India’s fragmented […]
Fastmarkets is launching two price assessments for palm oil mill effluent (POME) for loading out of ports in Malaysia in Indonesia, to meet growing interest from biofuel producers and consumers in Europe and other parts of Asia. The first publication of these two price assessments will be on Thursday December 4 and will be published […]
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the methodology for assessing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) base cost of production in the US, effective January 5, 2026.
Fastmarkets wishes to clarify the conversion factor for Singapore Exchange (SGX) iron ore derivative forward curves data used to assess its low-grade and high-grade iron ore indices.
Following consultations and expressions of support from a broad range of market participants, Fastmarkets has decided to launch new price assessments of northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) and bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) pulp spot prices for Europe, starting in January 2026.
Fastmarkets will include EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) costs in its secondary aluminium billet premium, ddp Europe (MB-AL-0383) and its primary aluminium 6063 extrusion billet premium, in-whs dp Rotterdam (MB-AL-0002) assessments from January 1, 2026, when the definitive period of the EU’s CBAM is set to begin. The inclusion of CBAM costs with MB-AL-0383 and MB-AL-0002 will enable […]