Why do some resources stop being updated?

Every price in WTP comes from an external source. When that source stops publishing a price series, the series also stops in WTP. We then look for another source that still has the data, and only stop the resource if there is none.

• Sanctions. A country falls under sanctions and trade with it stops. Without trade, there is no price.
• Demand dries up. Buyers stop using the material, so nobody trades it anymore.
• Not enough raw material. There is a shortage of what is needed to make the product.
• Too few producers. After mergers, the source can no longer collect enough prices to publish a reliable one.
• The source closes. For example, a small publisher stops when its owners retire.
• Funding stops. Some sources are paid for by a government. When that money stops, the price stops too.

We look for a replacement: another source that can still reach the same data. If no source can, we have to discontinue the resource.

A replacement is not always possible. For our benchmark we often pick the largest market research firm in that market. Many smaller sources base their own price on that firm's price. So when the large firm stops, the smaller ones usually stop as well.