Platts launches weekly protein price assessments in China and amends timestamp for Australia beef, June 1

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched weekly price assessments for Front Forequarter Eight cuts (FFQ 8) Beef CFR China and head-on, shell-on (HOSO) Shrimp CFR China , effective June 1, 2026.

China is the world's largest beef importer, importing 3.8 million metric tons in 2025. About 27% of the country's total beef imports consist of front forequarter eight cuts, which is also considered the benchmark for frozen beef in the Chinese market.

China is also the world's largest importer of frozen shrimp, having imported 901,563 mt in 2025. According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, 97% of China's frozen shrimp imports are shell-on shrimp, including both HOSO and headless, shell-on, while HOSO is considered the benchmark for frozen shrimp.

The new assessments would enhance Platts protein coverage in Asia-Pacific, while complementing its existing "field-to-fork" coverage of agriculture markets, and improve transparency in the global animal proteins market.

The launch of the new assessments was first proposed March 31, 2026 in a subscriber note available here, and confirmed on April 21, 2026 in a subscriber note available here.

The specifications of the new price assessments and time stamp amendment will be as follows:

1. Platts FFQ 8 Beef CFR China

Quality: Front forequarter, eight-cut, deboned, boxed and frozen. The front forequarter is defined as the natural proportion plus/minus 10% of the following cuts: chuck ribs, chuck roll, chuck tender, neck, oyster blade, shoulder blade, brisket and shin

Quantity: Assessment reflects one 40-foot refrigerated container load of 25-27 mt net weight

Basis and location: CFR Shanghai port, terminal handling charges excluded

Timing: Assessment reflects product to be shipped 30- 60 days from date of publication

Payment terms: Cash against documents

Frequency: Weekly, every Friday

Unit of Measurement: US dollars per mt

2. Platts HOSO Shrimp CFR China

Quality: Farm-raised L. Vannamei shrimp, head-on, shell-on, block frozen, 31-40 count/kilogram

Quantity: Assessment reflects product packed in boxes of 1.4-1.8 kg in a minimum of one 40-foot refrigerated container of 18-23 mt net weight

Basis and Location: CFR Tianjin port, terminal handling charges excluded

Timing: Assessment reflects product to be shipped 15- 30 days from the date of publication

Payment terms: Cash against documents

Frequency: Weekly, every Friday

Unit of Measurement: US dollars per mt

A monthly average would also be published for the FFQ 8 Beef CFR China and HOSO Shrimp CFR China assessments, effective July 1, 2026 .

A summary of the new assessments is as follows:

To maintain alignment with the new price assessments, Platts also changed the market on close for the FCA Australia 90CL beef daily price assessment from Singapore 4:30 pm to Penang, Malaysia, 4:30 pm , with no immediate impact other than updating the publishing calendar.

All assessments would be based on bids, offers, trades and market activity reported to Platts until market close on Friday at 4:30 pm Penang, Malaysia time, and would reflect the prevailing market value at the time of close.

The new assessments are available on Platts Core and will be published in Platts Protein Daily and on the fixed pages PAA0251 and PAA0250 from July 1, 2026.

All assessments follow the Platts Penang publishing calendar. The Platts holiday calendar is available at https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/pricing-benchmarks/our-methodology/holiday .

Please submit any feedback, comments or questions to Platts_AgricultureandFood@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com .

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