Identify the quotation
Record the product, grade, unit, currency, location and quotation time. A price without these details cannot be compared reliably with another indication.
Understand the basis
Spot and forward prices refer to different delivery periods. Freight, quality adjustments, taxes and payment terms can create a gap between a reference price and the cost of an actual shipment.
Use a consistent daily record
Track the same source and basis over time, and separate market movement from specification changes. This page is a reading guide, not a live price feed or executable quotation.