Metals & Mining Theme, Ferrous
September 29, 2025
Platts reflects updated industry specifications in China iron ore port stocks brand assessments
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has begun to reflect updated industry specifications for Pilbara Blend Fines, Pilbara Blend Lump, Newman High Grade Fines and Newman Blend Lump in its daily China iron ore port stock brand assessments over the period Sept. 4-29.
This follows producer announcements of changes to typical specifications for major Pilbara region iron ore brands and aligns with Platts' observation of increased spot liquidity in the portside market for material reflecting the updated product specifications.
Full details are provided in the table below:
| Assessment | Symbol (monthly average) | Previous producer Fe content | Updated producer Fe content | Date reflected in assessment | |
| Pilbara Blend Fines FOT North China | IOPBE00 (IOPBE03); IOPBA00 (IOPBA03) | 61.6% | 60.8% | Sept. 4 | |
| Newman High Grade Fines FOT North China | IOPBF00 (IOPBF03); IOPBB00 (IOPBB03) | 61.7% | 61.2% | Sept. 4 | |
| Pilbara Blend Fines FOT East China | IOPBG00 (IOPBG03); IOPBC00 (IOPBC03) | 61.6% | 60.8% | Sept. 12 | |
| Newman High Grade Fines FOT East China | IOPBH00 (IOPBH03); IOPBD00 (IOPBD03) | 61.7% | 61.2% | Sept. 12 | |
| Newman Blend Lump FOT North China | APORB00 (APORB03) | 62.2% | 62% | Sept. 12 | |
| Newman Blend Lump Premium IPP North China | APORD00 (APORD03) | 62.2% | 62% | Sept. 12 | |
| Pilbara Blend Lump FOT East China | APORC00 (APORC03) | 62.2% | 61.6% | Sept. 12 | |
| Pilbara Blend Lump Premium IPP East China | APORE00 (APORE03) | 62.2% | 61.6% | Sept. 12 | |
| Pilbara Blend Fines FOT Yangtze River ports | IOPBU00 (IOPBU03) | 61.6% | 60.8% | Sept. 29 | |
| Newman High Grade Fines FOT Yangtze River ports | IOPBV00 (IOPBV03) | 61.7% | 61.2% | Sept. 29 |
Platts port stock brand assessments reflect typical industry specifications as outlined in the Global Iron Ore Specifications Guide, available here: https://www.spglobal.com/content/dam/spglobal/ci/en/documents/platts/en/our-methodology/methodology-specifications/metals/iron-ore-specifications.pdf
The assessments are published on fixed pages 1119, 0120 and 0121 of the real-time Platts Steel Alert and Platts Metals Alert and in the Platts price database.
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