Fastmarkets has discontinued the publication of three base metals premiums, devised via calculation, after a month-long consultation.

After a period of consultation, Fastmarkets will amend the specification of its spodumene cif China price and discontinue its fob Australia and 7-7.5% cif China prices to better reflect emerging norms in the spodumene market that serve the lithium battery-grade chemicals industry.

The magnitude and volatility of price differences between iron ore product types and grades is growing, causing legacy practices in contract structuring to break down

The publication of Fastmarkets’ chrome ore South Africa UG2 concentrates index basis 42%, cif China, $/tonne, and ferro-chrome lumpy Cr benchmark indicator, charge basis 52% (and high carbon), Europe, $/Ib, for Friday August 7 were delayed because of reporter error and technical problems.

Fastmarkets has corrected its weekly manganese ore 37% Mn fob Port Elizabeth index, which was published incorrectly on Friday August 21 due to a reporter error.

Fastmarkets proposes to amend the specification of its spodumene 5-6% cif China price and discontinue its 5-6% fob Australia and 7-7.5% cif China prices.

Fastmarkets, the industry-leading cross-commodity PRA, announced on Thursday November 19 that CME Group has chosen Fastmarkets as the PRA for its new cash-settled cobalt futures contract, which will launch on December 14, pending regulatory review. The new contract will be listed on and subject to the rules of COMEX and settled against the benchmark daily standard-grade cobalt price assessed by Fastmarkets.

After market feedback, Fastmarkets MB is extending the consultation period for the proposed amendment to its cobalt hydroxide payable indicator and index.

Fastmarkets has corrected its price assessment for European high-carbon ferro-chrome, which was published incorrectly on Friday June 26 due to a rounding error.

Fastmarkets has decided not to proceed with the proposed amendment of its cobalt hydroxide payable indicator and cobalt hydroxide index, both min 30% Co, cif China, to include a maximum iron content in its chemical specifications.