SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts aligns quality specs for solvent, iso/virgin MX

Platts has aligned the quality specifications reflected in its FOB ARA solvent and isomer/virgin-grade mixed xylenes assessments effective January 2, 2015.

For solvent-grade mixed xylenes, Platts has reduced the ethyl-benzene content to a maximum of 20%, eliminated the limits on metaxylene, paraxylene and orthoxylene, and slashed the non-aromatics content to 2% maximum to better reflect industry standards.

Platts previously assessed solvent-grade mixed xylenes that conformed to ASTM 843 standards, with a maximum ethylbenzene content of 55-60%, non-aromatics content of 4% maximum, and metaxylene, paraxylene and orthoxylene content at a maximum of 15-20%.

For virgin/isomer grade mixed xylenes, Platts has increased the non-aromatics content to 2% maximum from 1% earlier. The maximum ethylbenzene content for this grade will continue to be 20% and the minimum paraxylene content will be 18%.

Weekly assessments of solvent xylene (PHAAW00) and virgin xylene (PHABD00) can be found on Platts Petrochemical Alert and Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan.

Please send comments and feedback to petchems@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.