02 Jan 2015 | 12:29 UTC — London

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.

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