Price Methodology

ChromeBrief separates benchmark indices, market observations, port spot prices and downstream ferrochrome prices. Every formal observation is bound to its specification, delivery term, unit, effective date, source status and revision.

Public Method Rules

Metric identity: UG2/MG 42% CIF China is the core weekly benchmark. Daily prices are observations for their own specifications and are not blended with the benchmark.
Units and basis: each metric retains its original unit and dry/wet basis, grade, size, tax and delivery definition. Non-comparable specifications do not produce a spread.
Cadence: weekly metrics add only formal weekly observations; daily metrics update on valid working days. Page update time is shown separately from the metric effective date.
Source hierarchy: a formal index or official source may serve as the factual anchor. Offers, trades, institutions and authoritative media retain their actual source labels; source count does not replace authority.
Missing data and revisions: missing values remain empty and are not replaced by zeroes or inferred formal points. Revisions retain the original date, version, reason and update time.
Quality control: pre-publication checks cover freshness, units, abnormal jumps, provenance, comparison period and bilingual numerical consistency.

Reference prices are not trading, investment or procurement advice. Commercial use should rely on confirmed transactions, contract terms and live editorial data.