Platts reshapes Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched a new Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet premium monthly assessment over Platts Iron Ore Fines 65% Fe and has discontinued 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 .

Following market feedback, Platts notified its decision to implement the proposed changes in a subscriber note on Nov. 14 available here .

Platts had 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 has launched 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 has the following specifications:

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 be published in SBB Steel Markets Daily, and on fixed pages STL1160, PMA1160.

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 continue reflecting differential over IODEX

As previously communicated, Platts will continue to assess its existing Atlantic Iron Ore Blast Furnace Pellet Contract Price Premium over the quality-adjusted medium grade iron ore fines benchmark (IOBFP00), which will be published in parallel to the new 65% basis Atlantic BF pellet premium assessment, effective Jan. 2, 2026.

The assessment description for (IOBFP00) has been updated to Atlantic iron ore blast furnace pellet contract price premium (basis IODEX), effective Jan. 2, for greater clarity. This follows Platts IODEX CFR China iron ore benchmark now reflecting 61% Fe iron ore fines, revised from 62% previously, alongside higher impurities for silica, alumina, and phosphorus. Full details are available here.

In addition, Platts clarified the basis of this assessment (IOBFP00) will continue to reflect the additional charge over the quality-adjusted iron ore fines on a 62% Fe basis, until contractual premiums are observed to have migrated to settling against the updated IODEX reflecting 61% Fe iron ore fines. More details are available here .

This applies to the following assessment:

All other specifications of the assessment remain unchanged.

Discontinuation of all-in calculation

In addition, Platts has discontinued 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 affects the following:

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.