Good to see you posting constructively instead of hurling Molotov cocktails!
I don't think we should try to get into the "fine points" of pricing and shipping costs on this Board. These guys aren't ready for that, nor do most of them care. But I would respectfully respond as follows:
PRICING Every business has it's "peculiarities" when it comes to pricing and the old system of cents/dmtu pricing is a good example. Almost nobody ever PUBLICLY refers to cents/dmtu anymore (just the guys doing the actual invoicing) because the price has risen so high that it has become "easier" to quote Dollars/Tonnes, especially because the Metal Bulletin and Platts Indexes do, and have sort of taken over the world. Even Vale, BHP and Rio, and most importantly the new Iron Ore Swaps Markets, now refer to these indexes when setting prices. By the way, soon there may be NO "Contracts". BHP has begun auctioning up to 15% of their Ore WEEKLY and (if they had their way) want to move everything to spot. The only purpose Contracts would serve is to make sure the customer is guaranteed his allocation for the Month / Year etc.., but they will pay based on Spot/Index. Old customers may get discounts, but that will (obviously)be very secretive.
FREIGHT MB and Platts are also based on CFR North China (they also quote ocean freight rates for the major routes that are quite close to reality) because all but the very largest buyers (who have bulkers on Long Term Charter) are now buying CFR. It doesn't make much difference whether CWRN is selling FOB or CFR. Their NET/NET FOB price (what goes in their pocket) will be more or less the same. It's just a question of Cashflow and who is willing to(or prefers to) handle the Ship Charter.
There have been HUGE CHANGES to this business over the past 18 Months, and apparently more "modernizing" to come.
AI
Market Data 
Markets 
