Platts reviews iron ore pellet feed deliveries informing CFR Middle East assessment

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has initiated a review of cargo deliveries informing its 67% Fe iron ore pellet feed CFR Middle East assessment, with immediate effect from March 2, 2026.

With increased shipping security risks in the Persian Gulf, market participants have notified Platts that major shipping companies have halted transit through the Strait of Hormuz due to heightened safety concerns.

As per established methodology, Platts may consider pricing information for spot, seaborne pellet feed imports into China of equivalent specifications and normalize them by assessing a netback value to their original load parts and deriving a net forward value from a relevant freight rate to the Middle East.

As part of this review, Platts also invites further comments regarding the likely duration of these shipping restrictions, as well as how other pellet feed information on other incoterm bases may be used to represent pricing on a CFR Middle East basis.

Please send any feedback or questions to iodex@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.