Metals methodology

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Metals pricing notices

Fastmarkets will implement methodology changes and clarifications to its global suite of battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide assessments to align with observed trading practices, effective from Tuesday September 1, 2026.

Fastmarkets will publish a one-time differential on August 28, 2026, that may be used to adjust derivatives on commodity exchanges and other contracts, which settle against the assessment of the MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea.

Fastmarkets will change the quality and tonnage specifications for its benchmark assessments of the MB-LI-0033 lithium hydroxide monohydrate LiOH.H2O, 56.5% LiOH min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea and the MB-LI-0029 lithium carbonate, 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot prices, cif China, Japan & Korea, effective from Tuesday September 1, 2026.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ assessment of laterite ore with 1.6% nickel content, Indonesia domestic trade, delivered for Monday June 15, 2026 was delayed due to the unavailability of the latest Indonesian government mineral reference prices (HMA). Fastmarkets’ pricing database will be updated upon the release of the latest HMA.

Fastmarkets wishes to clarify details around the following aspects of the pricing methodology for MB-NI-0244 nickel sulfate min 21%, max 22.5%; cobalt 10ppm max, exw China.

Fastmarkets proposes to remove the origin restrictions, widen specification ranges and rename its index for iron ore 65% Fe Brazil-origin fines, cfr Qingdao, to better capture global supply in the seaborne high-grade sinter fines market on a CFR Qingdao basis, effective Tuesday September 1.

Fastmarkets Benchmark Administration Oy (FBA) was incorporated in December 2020 to operate as the independent administrator of benchmarks published by price reporting agency (PRA) Fastmarkets and subject to the European Benchmarks Regulation (BMR). It is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, and supervised by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA).

If you have questions about our pricing process, contact our pricing team.

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