Metals & Mining Theme, Ferrous
November 14, 2025
Platts to reshape Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium assessments
HIGHLIGHTS
New Atlantic iron ore BF pellet premium basis Platts 65% Fe fines assessment to be launched
Existing Atlantic BF pellet premium to be assessed over 61% Fe fines, reflecting updated IODEX specification
Atlantic BF pellet all-in calculation to be discontinued
Platts will launch a new Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium monthly assessment over Platts Iron Ore Fines 65% Fe and discontinue its monthly calculated outright value for Atlantic pellet contracts FOB Brazil (SB01095), effective Jan. 2, 2026.
Platts first proposed these changes in a subscriber note published on Oct. 14 available here. Platts also clarified in the same subscriber note that its existing Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium assessment (IOBFP00) will reflect a premium over 61% Fe iron ore fines from January 2026, reflecting updated specifications for Platts IODEX CFR China benchmark.
New 65% basis Atlantic BF pellet premium assessment
Platts will launch a new Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium to reflect the premium over the Platts iron ore fines 65% Fe CFR China assessment. This follows market feedback indicating higher liquidity and usage of Atlantic pellet premium contract settlements over 65% Fe fines.
The new assessment will have the following specifications:
| Assessment description | Frequency | Quality | Dimensions | Incoterms | Location | Timing | UOM |
| Atlantic iron ore blast furnace 65% Fe pellet premium (basis 65% Fe fines) | Monthly | 65% Fe blast furnace pellet: silica 3%, alumina 0.5%, 275 Cold Crushing Strength (CCS), Low Temperature Disintegration +6.3 mm, 80% | Sizing below 6.3 mm <2.5%, over 9 mm is >94% | FOB | Brazil | Current month | $/dmt |
The assessment will reflect a 4:30 pm London timestamp on the first business day of the month and follow the London holiday calendar.
The assessment will consider market information reported to Platts and published throughout the preceding month, including firm bids and offers, transactions and indications, as well as any other data deemed relevant to the assessment process.
Existing Atlantic BF pellet premium to reflect 61% Fe fines
As previously communicated, Platts will continue publishing its existing Atlantic blast furnace pellet premium monthly assessment over medium-grade fines (IOBFP00). Effective Jan. 2, 2026, the assessment will reflect the premium over the updated IODEX benchmark quality specifications of 61% Fe.
The assessment description will be updated to Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet contract price premium (basis IODEX) for greater clarity.
More details of the IODEX quality specifications change can be found here .
This applies to the following assessment:
| Symbol | Current assessment description | Assessment description effective Jan. 2, 2026 |
| IOBFP00 | Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet contract price premium | Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet contract price premium (basis IODEX) |
All other specifications of the assessment will remain unchanged.
Discontinuation of all-in calculation
In addition, Platts will discontinue its Atlantic Basin iron ore pellet monthly contract price FOB Brazil (SB01095), following market feedback that the calculated price is not used in physical contracts.
The discontinuation will affect the following:
| Symbol | Assessment description | Frequency | Quality | Dimensions | Incoterm | Location | Timing | UOM |
| SB01095 | Atlantic Basin iron ore pellets monthly contract price Brazil export FOB | Monthly | 65% Fe blast furnace pellet: silica 3%, alumina 0.5%, 275 Cold Crushing Strength (CCS), Low Temperature Disintegration +6.3 mm, 80% | Sizing below 6.3 mm <2.5%, over 9 mm is >94% | FOB | Brazil | Current month | $/dmt |
Full specifications of Platts Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet assessments can be found in the Global Iron Ore specifications guide, available here .
The assessments are published in SBB Steel Markets Daily, and on fixed pages STL1160, PMA1160.
Please send all questions and comments to EMEAMetalsTeam@spglobal.com and PriceGroup@spglobal.com .
For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.
Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.