Update Schedule

How often is the price data updated?

All price assessments are updated monthly. Data from governmental sources is collected during the last week of the month, then processed, validated, and published at the beginning of the following month.

This cadence applies to all subscription plans and all industries covered by Primary Commodity Prices.

When exactly are new prices published each month?

The release day each month depends on your subscription plan:

Advanced and Ultimate subscribers receive data up to five business days earlier than Starter subscribers — a meaningful lead time for teams that act on fresh price intelligence for procurement or commercial planning.

Do higher-tier plans get data earlier?

Yes. Advanced and Ultimate plan subscribers receive new price data on the 3rd business day of the month. Pro subscribers receive it on the 5th business day, and Starter subscribers on the 8th business day.

The earlier release dates on higher-tier plans are one of the key differentiators between plan levels, alongside access to longer price histories and additional delivery methods.

Can I use this data as a real-time price feed?

Primary Commodity Prices is a monthly dataset and is not suited for use as a real-time price feed. Each data point reflects international trade transactions aggregated over the course of a month, published once at the beginning of the following month.

Monthly data works well for evaluating transaction prices, benchmarking procurement performance, identifying price trends, and supporting investment analyses. However, it may not capture sharp or sudden price movements during periods of high volatility.

For these reasons, monthly Intratec data should not be used as the sole reference for real-time pricing or as the primary index for structuring supplier-consumer contracts. When real-time price tracking is needed, use our data in combination with other market intelligence sources.

Are previously published values ever revised?

Yes. In some data series, the most recent months may initially be published as provisional (Preliminary) figures — estimates based on the best information available at publication time. As additional or revised source data becomes available in subsequent months, those provisional values are updated and replaced by final, consolidated figures.

Forecast values may also change over time as new information and updated market fundamentals are incorporated into the models.

This approach ensures that data is both timely — providing early access to current market information — and accurate, maintaining consistency with verified, consolidated data as it becomes available.

Data Statuses Explained

How are data statuses like "Preliminary" defined?

Each data point in a price series carries one of three status labels, visible in online charts and data exports:

• Final (Fi): Consolidated data derived from official statistics released by national governments, international organizations, or other sources used in our methodology.
• Preliminary (P): Data generated through mathematical models when official statistics have not yet been published. Preliminary values are recalculated and replaced by Final values as soon as the underlying official data becomes available.
• Forecast (F): Machine-learning based predictions representing the most probable price scenario for the upcoming months. Forecast values carry inherent uncertainty and are updated as new market fundamentals are incorporated into the models.

These labels let you assess the reliability level of each value before using it in analyses, reports, or procurement models.

What does a "Forecast" status mean for a data point?

A Forecast (F) status means the data point is a forward-looking estimate, not a figure derived from observed trade data. Forecasts are generated using machine-learning models and represent the most probable price scenario for the upcoming months based on available market information at the time of publication.

Forecast values are available for a rolling 6-month horizon and are updated each month as new data and market fundamentals are incorporated into the models. Because they are projections rather than observations, forecast values carry a higher degree of uncertainty than Preliminary or Final values, and should be used accordingly — as a directional indicator, not a precise prediction.

What is a "Final" value and when does it replace earlier ones?

A Final (Fi) value is a data point derived from official statistics — trade data released by national governments, international organizations, or other authoritative sources used in our methodology. Final values are the most reliable form of a data point because they are based on consolidated, verified information.

When a data point is first published, it may carry a Preliminary status if official statistics for that period have not yet been released. Once the relevant official data becomes available, the Preliminary value is recalculated and replaced by the Final value. There is no fixed timeline for this transition — it depends on when each country's statistical agencies publish their trade reports.