Discontinuation of Iron Ore Data Points in the SMM Database
PriceMar 13, 2026 16:19In the past two years, the proportion of nickel ore exported from the Philippines to Indonesia has surged from less than 3% in 2023 to approximately 20% in 2024. This year, Indonesia’s domestic nickel ore supply is tightening under the dual pressures of progressively stricter government controls over nickel resources and prolonged rainy seasons. Consequently, exports of nickel ore from the Philippines to Indonesia are expected to increase further. Against this backdrop, the valuation and pricing mechanisms for Philippine nickel ore in the Indonesian market are drawing close attention from participants across the supply chain. To proactively address market shifts, meet the pressing need for price discovery of Philippine nickel ore on a CIF Indonesia basis, and enhance market transparency, SMM has decided: Commencing August 15, 2025, SMM will officially launch two new price: SMM the Philippines 1.3% Laterite Nickel Ore, CIF Indonesia, USD/wmt SMM the Philippines 1.4% Laterite Nickel Ore, CIF Indonesia, USD/wmt Details of this price point are as follows: Description: SMM the Philippines 1.3% Laterite Nickel Ore, CIF Indonesia, USD/wmt Quality: Nickel ore 1.3% Ni, 15-25% Fe, water content 33-35% Quantity: Minimum 50000 tonnes Definition: CIF Indoneisa main ports Brand Listing: CNC、NAC,etc Timing: 1-2 Months Unit: USD/wmt Payment Terms: L/C/TT at sight in USD , other payment terms normalized Pulication: Daily, by 12am Beijing Time Description: SMM the Philippines 1.4% Laterite Nickel Ore, CIF Indonesia, USD/wmt Quality: Nickel ore 1.4% Ni, 15-25% Fe, water content 33-35% Quantity: Minimum 50000 tonnes Definition: CIF Indoneisa main ports Brand Listing: CNC、NAC,etc Timing: 1-2 Months Unit: USD/wmt Payment Terms: L/C/TT at sight in USD , other payment terms normalized Pulication: Daily, by 12am Beijing Time SMM Nickel Industry Research Department August 8, 2025
PriceAug 8, 2025 16:19SMM will increase the update frequency for its Indonesian Domestic Nickel Ore Price (1.2%-1.6% Ni) from weekly to daily, effective February 9, 2026, due to market volatility.
PriceFeb 3, 2026 13:48Discontinuation and Addition of Iron Ore Data Points in the SMM Database
PriceMar 6, 2026 19:02Dear users, As the core raw material for the steel industry, the price fluctuations of iron ore directly determine the cost and profit stability of the steel industry chain. In recent years, the endowment of global iron ore resources has shown significant changes, with the proportion of high-grade ore production continuously declining. To actively respond to market changes, enhance the guiding significance of the index for the Spot Market, and improve market information transparency, SMM has decided to launch the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI)" and the "MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI)" from 5th January 2026. The specific price point details are as follows: Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Port Stock Index (IOPI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: FOT Qingdao Port, VAT included. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: RMB/wet tonnes Quantity: min 5,000 tonnes Timing: within 1 week Payment Terms: Payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time Index Price Point: MMI 61% Iron Ore Seaborne Index (IOSI) Quality specifications: Fe content base 61%, aluminum base 2.5%, silica base 4.5%, phosphorus base 0.1%, sulfur base 0.02%, Moisture base 8% Definition: CFR Qingdao Port. Normalized for any Chinese Port. Unit: USD/dry tonnes Quantity: min 50,000 tonnes Timing: within 2 months Payment Terms: L/C or payment at sight Publication: Working Day, 6 PM Beijing Time SMM Iron Ore Research January 5, 2026
PriceJan 5, 2026 14:18Dear Users, Greetings! In recent years, as the global new energy vehicle industry entered a large-scale retirement period and resource security strategies were upgraded, China's lithium battery recycling market continued to expand rapidly. In August this year, China officially began allowing the import and export of black mass, and it is expected that more black mass meeting quality requirements will enter China in the future. Against this backdrop, the value and pricing mechanism of overseas black mass in the Chinese market are attracting close attention from both upstream and downstream segments of the industry chain. In response to market changes, addressing the industry's practical needs for evaluating the value of recycled raw materials, and promoting the establishment of a more open and fair pricing benchmark in the lithium battery recycling sector, the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), after in-depth market surveys and discussions has decided: On January 9, 2026, SMM will officially launch new weekly price for lithium battery recycling. The newly added price are as follow: 1. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Nickle sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 9% < Ni < 20% 2. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Cobalt sulphate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 5% < Co < 10% 3. SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Lithium Carbonate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 3% < Li < 3.5% Details of this price point are as follows: Description: SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Nickel Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 9% < Ni < 20% SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Cobalt Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 5% < Co < 10% SMM Battery Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % Payable of SMM's Lithium Sulphate, FOB Malaysia, 3% < Li < 3.5% Quality: Ni 9%-20%, Co 5%-10%, Li 3%-3.5% Quantity: Minimum 30 tonnes Definition: FOB Malaysia main ports Timing: 1-2 Months Unit: % Payment Terms: 50% Payment in advance T/T in USD , other payment terms normalized Pulication: Weekly, Friday 12pm Beijing time Relevant companies from the New Energy Industry Chain are welcomed to participate and support SMM in better serving the New Energy Industry Companies. Relevant companies from the New Energy Industry Chain are welcomed to participate and support SMM in better serving the New Energy Industry Companies. Shirley Wang 021-51666838 wangcong@smm.cn Thomas Feng 021-51666714 marui@smm.cn Freya Lin 021-51666902 linziya@smm.cn Rayna Lei 021-20707873 leiyue@smm.cn Melanie Choy (Malaysia) +6012-4926909 melanie.choy@smm.cn Shanghai Metals Market New Energy Research Team November 26, 2025
PriceDec 29, 2025 18:56Dear User, Hello! On September 12, 2025, SMM officially launched new weekly price points for lithium battery recycling. The newly added price points include: 1. SMM Black Mass, NCM/NCA, Payable indicator, cobalt, FOB Koera, % payable of SMM's Cobalt Metal (in-whs Rotterdam) , Specification: 18% < Ni < 40% 2. SMM Black Mass, NCM/NCA, Payable indicator, nickel, FOB Koera, % payable of LME's Nickel Cash Official price , Specification: 5% < Co < 18% The price are updated and maintained every Friday at 12:00 PM. On September 12, 2025, this week’s SMM NCM/NCA black mass‘s weekly price was 87%-91%, remaining unchanged from last week. We welcome more related companies in the industry chain to participate and support SMM in better serving the new energy industry chain.
PriceOct 28, 2025 18:20Dear Industry Peers, Imported manganese ore is a key raw material for manufacturing products such as silicomanganese alloy and ferromanganese alloy, with high-quality manganese ore being particularly favored by the market. Australian manganese ore is a mainstream and high-frequency oxide ore globally, serving as an important reference standard for global manganese ore pricing, and its price fluctuations directly impact the cost chain of global manganese-based alloys. Tianjin Port and Qinzhou Port are the main unloading ports for imported manganese ore in China. Equipped with complete storage facilities, these two ports feature high single-vessel unloading efficiency and large manganese ore reserve capacity. The formed complementary pattern of "Tianjin in the north and Qinzhou in the south" has enhanced China's bargaining power in global manganese ore trade. Prices at Tianjin Port (north) and Qinzhou Port (south) serve as benchmarks for global manganese ore pricing, which are referenced by both domestic and foreign ore merchants. To actively respond to market changes, meet the urgent demand of users for understanding the prices of Australian Mn42% manganese ore at Tianjin Port and Qinzhou Port, and improve the transparency of market information, SMM has decided: Commencing December 31, 2025, SMM will officially launch two new price: SMM Mn Ore, Australia Block 42%, In-whs-Tianjin Port, Yuan/ton-degree SMM Mn Ore, Australia Block 42%, In-whs-Qinzhou Port, Yuan/ton-degree Details of this price point are as follows: Description: SMM Mn Ore, Australia Block 42%, In-whs-Tianjin Port, Yuan/ton-degree Quality: Mn 42% Quantity: Min 100 tonnes Definition: EX-warehouse-Tianjin Port Brand Listing: South 32,etc Timing: Prompt Unit: Yuan/ton-degree Payment Terms: Cash on same day, other payment terms normalized Pulication: Daily, by 11am Beijing Time (i.e., before 4:00 AM London Summer Time before 3:00 AM London Winter Time) Description: SMM Mn Ore, Australia Block 42%, In-whs-Qinzhou Port, Yuan/ton-degree Quality: Mn 42% Quantity: Min 100 tonnes Definition: EX-warehouse-Qinzhou Port Brand Listing: South 32,etc Timing: Prompt Unit: Yuan/ton-degree Payment Terms: Cash on same day, other payment terms normalized Pulication: Daily, by 11am Beijing Time (i.e., before 4:00 AM London Summer Time before 3:00 AM London Winter Time) SMM Nickel Industry Research Department December 26, 2025
PriceDec 26, 2025 11:19In recent years, with the steady development of Malaysia's manufacturing and stainless steel processing industries, the local stainless steel scrap recycling system has become increasingly mature. The number of recyclers, sorting facilities, and reprocessing enterprises has grown significantly, and the proportion of locally recycled scrap in the circular economy continues to rise, providing strong support for regional stainless steel raw material supply. Meanwhile, Malaysia has become one of the main sources of stainless steel scrap imported by India. According to trade statistics, Malaysia exported approximately 107,000 tons of stainless steel scrap to India in 2024, reflecting strong linkage between the two countries in raw material recycling. Large domestic recycling and processing enterprises possess advanced sorting and reprocessing capabilities, enabling them to classify and process regional scrap and steadily supply high-quality materials to major Asian stainless steel producers in Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere. Against the backdrop of a diversified regional raw material structure and growing value of recycled resources, Malaysia's domestic ex-works stainless steel scrap prices have become an important reference indicator for the Southeast Asian stainless steel industry. To meet market demand, enhance price transparency, and help industry participants stay informed of regional price trends, SMM announces that effective October 30, 2025 , it will officially launch: Malaysia 304 SS Scrap,Ex-works Malaysia,USD/tonne Price specifications: Description: Malaysia 304 SS Scrap,Ex-works Malaysia,USD/tonne Quality: Commercial practice standard. Approx. Ni 8%, Cr 18%, non-magnetic, clean scrap, free from oil, coating, and visible impurities. No radioactive or hazardous waste. Definition: Ex-works Malaysia Unit: USD/tonne Quantity: Minimum 10 tonnes Timing: Prompt Publication: 11:30 a.m. Kuala Lumpur time Payment Terms: Cash on same day,other payment terms normalized SMM Nickel & Stainless Steel Industry Research Department October 29, 2025
PriceOct 29, 2025 13:30Dear Users, Greetings! On December 12, 2025, SMM will officially launch new weekly price points for lithium battery recycling. The newly added price points are as follow: 1. SMM Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Nickle sulphate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 18% < Ni < 40% 2. SMM Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Cobalt sulphate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 5% < Co < 18% 3. SMM Black Mass, NCM/NCA, % payable of SMM's Lithium sulphate, FOB Malaysia, Specification: 5.5% < Li < 6.5% The price will be updated and maintained every Friday at 12:00 PM. Relevant companies from the New Energy Industry Chain are welcomed to participate and support SMM in better serving the New Energy Industry Companies. Shirley Wang 021-51666838 wangcong@smm.cn Maria Ma 021-51595780 marui@smm.cn Freya Lin 021-51666902 linziya@smm.cn Rayna Lei 021-20707873 leiyue@smm.cn Melanie Choy (Malaysia) +6012-4926909 melanie.choy@smm.cn Shanghai Metals Market New Energy Research Team December 2, 2025
PriceDec 2, 2025 17:22