Become a customer

PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to increase frequency of Fastmarkets MB iron ore VIU indices

Fastmarkets MB is seeking feedback on a proposal to begin publishing on a weekly basis its value-in-use (VIU) indices for the market-implied value impact of 1% iron, silica and alumina, and 0.01% phosphorus on the price of iron ore. Depending on market feedback, this proposal would be implemented from Monday March 4.

January 31, 2019
By Generic people page
Pricing notice

These indices are currently calculated on a monthly basis and published on the first working day of each month.

The proposed new schedule would see them calculated weekly, and published on the Monday of the following week. The final monthly VIU indices would be published on Friday March 1, and the first weekly publication would begin on Monday March 4.

The proposed transition from monthly to weekly frequency is intended to increase the degree to which the VIU indices reflect current market trends.

The VIU indices are currently derived from a regression-based calculation of transactions in the month prior to publication.

Under the proposed new schedule, the indices will be calculated from data observed during the week prior to publication, and will incorporate market participants’ estimates in addition to transaction data in the regression-based calculation.

The Fastmarkets MB iron ore VIU indices comprise the following:

MBIOI-Fe-VIU
Impact of 1% iron difference to the base specification of the MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index, calculated from data in the 60-63.5% Fe range.

MBIOI-Fe65-VIU
Impact of 1% iron difference to the base specification of the MB 65% Fe iron Ore Index, calculated from data in the 63.5-66% Fe range.

MBIOI-Si-VIU
Impact of 1% silica difference to the base specification of the MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index, calculated from data in the 60-63.5% Fe range.

MBIOI-Al-VIU
Impact of 1% alumina difference to the base specification of the MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index, calculated from data in the 60-63.5% Fe range.

MBIOI-P-VIU
Impact of 0.01% phosphorus difference to the base specification of the MB 62% Fe Iron Ore Index, calculated from data in the 60-63.5% Fe range.

To provide feedback on these prices or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter,, please contact Peter Hannah by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “FAO: Peter Hannah, re: MBIOI VIU.”

All of Fastmarkets MB’s pricing methodology and specification documents can be found here.

What to read next
Open consultation on annual methodology review for US pig iron import assessment
This consultation, which is open until April 28, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the 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 the […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Janie Davies
Delayed publication of Asia lithium technical grade prices
The prices were scheduled for publication at 4pm London time, but were published at 4:19pm. The following prices were affected:MB-LI-0028 Lithium carbonate 99% Li2CO3 min, technical and industrial grades, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea, $/kgMB-LI-0032 Lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, technical and industrial grades, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea, $/kgMB-LI-0034 Lithium carbonate […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Callum Perry
Open consultation on methodology for European high carbon ferro-chrome price assessments
This consultation, which is open until April 28, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the 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. The prices under review […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Janie Davies
Final decision on open consultation on methodology review for aluminium P1020A premium in-whs dup, dp Rotterdam in relation to the EU’s CBAM
During the extended consultation, Fastmarkets received comprehensive and wide-ranging feedback from a broad cross-section of the P1020A value chain.The majority of the market feedback received during the consultation was in support of Proposal 1, with most participants preferring its simpler, more coherent mechanism of reflecting CBAM costs than Proposal 2. Proposal 1: Reporters may apply expert […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Sayaka Kurata
Final decision on open consultation on methodology review for aluminium primary foundry alloy silicon 7 ingot premium, ddp Germany and ddp Eastern Europe in relation to CBAM
The consultation was carried out between January 8, 2025, and March 14, 2025. During the extensive consultation, Fastmarkets received comprehensive and wide-ranging feedback from a broad cross-section of the PFA value chain. The majority of the market feedback received during the consultation supported Proposal 1, with most market participants preferring its simpler, more coherent mechanism for […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Sayaka Kurata
Final decision on open consultation on methodology review for aluminium extrusion billet premiums ddp Italy, ddp North Germany, ddp Spain in relation to CBAM
The consultation was carried out between December 12, 2024, and February 28, 2025. During the extensive consultation, Fastmarkets received comprehensive and wide-ranging feedback from a broad cross-section of the aluminium billet value chain. Proposal 1 was favored the most by market participants in the consultation, because of its simpler, more coherent mechanism for reflecting CBAM costs […]
March 27, 2025
 · 
By Sayaka Kurata