PRICING NOTICE: Proposal to launch equivalent grade copper cathode premium assessment

Following a period of market research in the copper cathode market, Fastmarkets proposes to launch fortnightly assessments of equivalent grade (EQ) copper cathode premiums, basis cif Europe and Shanghai.

The introduction of the premiums will begin Fastmarkets’ pricing coverage of non exchange-deliverable copper cathode trade. Fastmarkets has for many years tracked premiums for grade A, exchange deliverable cathodes in Europe, Shanghai, Asia and North America.

EQ copper cathodes conform to the specifications set out for London Metal Exchange-registered grade A copper cathodes but are not registered brands on any global metals exchange.

The proposed new assessment will provide the market with an improved picture of global copper cathode business, with preliminary market feedback indicating consistent spot liquidity within the proposed locations.

Additionally, volatility in the LME’s three-month copper price and China’s implementation of category 6 and 7 scrap import bans earlier this year have prompted physical participants to seek further opportunities in physical copper business beyond top brand cathodes.

Fastmarkets now invites market participants to take part in a consultation on its proposal to launch premium assessments for copper cathode equivalent grade, cif Europe and cif Shanghai.

The proposed specifications for the premium assessments are as follows:

Assessment: 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: 25 tonnes
Location: Europe
Timing: Spot, fortnightly
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: LC, TT, DP or other payments normalized.
Publication: Fortnightly, Tuesday 4pm London time.

Assessment: 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: 25 tonnes
Location: Shanghai
Timing: Spot, fortnightly
Unit: USD per tonne
Payment terms: LC, TT, DP or other payments normalised.
Publication: Fortnightly, Tuesday 4pm London time.

The consultation period for this proposed assessment will end one month from the date of this pricing notice on November 6, 2019 with changes taking place from Tuesday November 12, 2019, subject to market feedback.

To provide feedback on this proposal or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to this premium, please contact 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.

What to read next
The following prices were affected: MB-STE-0007 Steel hot-rolled coil domestic monthly, exw Brazil, reais/tonne MB-STE-0005 Steel cold-rolled coil domestic monthly, exw Brazil, reais/tonne MB-STE-0006 Steel hot-dipped galvanized coil domestic monthly, exw Brazil, reais/tonne MB-STE-0008 Steel reinforcing bar (rebar) domestic monthly, delivered Brazil, reais/tonne These prices are a part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information or to provide […]
Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue the following duplicate prices, which were previously assessed on a US timestamp and also assessed in Asia, to better reflect observed market liquidity and based on previously received market feedback. Fastmarkets assessed these markets in both the US and Asia following the acquisition and merger of The Jacobson and Palm Oil […]
Fastmarkets has proposed several changes to the methodologies for its suite of global palm and lauric oil methodologies to give more insight into how these prices are assessed. It is also clarifying the timing and monthly rolls of several assessments. Fastmarkets has observed growth and market interest in these prices and wishes to give more […]
Explore the base metals outlook 2026 and learn how market trends are impacting copper, tin, and other metals this year.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the pricing frequency of its copper grade A cathode premium, delivered Germany; copper grade A cathode premium, cif Leghorn; and copper EQ cathode premium, cif Europe to one a week from the current fortnightly basis, effective December 30.
The following prices were affected: MB-STE-0916 Green steel domestic, differential to US HRC, fob mill, $/short ton MB-STE-0917 Green steel base price, hot-rolled coil fob US mill, weekly inferred, $/short ton These prices are a part of the Fastmarkets steel package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if […]