Proposal to discontinue two stainless steel base price assessments

Fastmarkets proposes to discontinue its monthly assessments of the MB-STS-0002 stainless steel cold-rolled sheet base price, 316, 2mm, domestic, delivered Europe, € per tonne, and the MB-STS-0007 stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm, grade 304, base price, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, € per tonne.

The proposal follows preliminary discussions with the market and interrogation of existing data collected by Fastmarkets, which suggest that these prices are no longer used by the wider market.

Base price trading has been suspended since the end of 2022 due to poor market conditions. In its place, business has been done on a transaction price basis.

Specifically, Fastmarkets is proposing to discontinue these assessments:

MB-STS-0002 Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet base price, 316, 2mm, domestic, delivered Europe, € per tonne
Quality: AISI 316 EN 1.4401 ASTM 316, width 1,500-2,000mm, thickness 2mm, length: 1,000-3,000mm
Quantity: 10-1,000 tonnes
Location: Delivered Northern Europe
Timing: 6-8 weeks
Unit: EUR per tonne
Payment terms: Standard 30-60 days after invoice date
Publication: Monthly. First Friday of each month, 2-3pm London time
Notes: European norm.

MB-STS-0007 Stainless steel cold-rolled sheet, 2mm, grade 304, base price, domestic, delivered Northern Europe, € per tonne
Quality: AISI 304 EN 1.4301 ASTM 304, width 1,500-2,000mm, thickness 2mm, length 1,000-3,000mm
Quantity: 10-1,000 tonnes
Location: Delivered Northern Europe
Timing: 6-8 weeks
Unit: EUR per tonne
Payment terms: Standard 30-60 days after invoice date
Publication: Monthly. First Friday of each month, 2-3pm London time
Notes: European norm.

These prices are part of the Fastmarkets Steel Physicals package.

The consultation period for this price discontinuation begins on Friday June 13 and will end on Friday July 11, with changes taking place, subject to market feedback, from Wednesday July 16.

All short-term forecasts associated with these prices produced by the Fastmarkets research team, if any, will also be discontinued.

To provide feedback on the proposal to discontinue these price assessments, or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter, please contact Zdravko Cherkezov by email at: pricing@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading: “FAO: Zdravko Cherkezov, re: stainless steel base prices.”

Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

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

What to read next
Fastmarkets has decided to launch two weekly price assessments for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh and graphite flake 94% C, +80 mesh on an ex-works China basis on Thursday April 16.
Fastmarkets published its assessment of the MB-STE-0232 steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton on Thursday April 9, 2026.
Fastmarkets has corrected the rationale for its MB-LI-0033 Lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan & Korea, which was published incorrectly on Thursday April 9 due to a typo. The published rationale for MB-LI-0033 Lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price cif China, Japan […]
Fastmarkets launched two new aluminium scrap prices on Thursday, April 9, adding to Fastmarkets’ suite of recycled non-ferrous metals price assessments. The launch will elevate and expand Fastmarkets’ aluminium scrap coverage by including the following grades: Section 232 tariffs and the resulting high aluminium premiums have led to increased costs and rising interest in recycled […]
The proposal would align the index more closely with physically traded volumes in the region, and enable it to adjust to evolving market conditions. This proposal follows an observed widening of the spread between trader and smelter purchase components of the index and is aligned with a majority of market feedback. Additionally, Fastmarkets seeks feedback […]
The publication of Fastmarkets’ Soymeal CIF US Gulf Barge Hipro, Soymeal CIF US Gulf Barge Hipro Premium, Soymeal FOB US Gulf Barge Hipro and Soymeal FOB US Gulf Barge Hipro Premium assessments for April 6 and 7, 2026 was delayed because of a procedure lapse and a system error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.