Platts makes several changes to Asia LPG assessments from Jan

S&P Global Platts has made several changes to the Asia LPG assessments from January 2, 2020.

Platts has renamed some of its Asia refrigerated propane and butane assessments, that will reflect new specifications for all its North Asia refrigerated LPG assessments.

Platts has also redefined the basis used in the differential assessments in Asia and the Middle East. As a result of the changes made, Platts will discontinue its Asia Contract Price strip assessments and two Middle East differential assessments.

The changes are in response to shifting demand and supply fundamentals in the North Asian LPG market over the last few years.

In particular, the rise of the US as a significant exporter to Asia has altered the region's LPG trade flows. In 2018, the US accounted for around 63%, equivalent to 6.7 million mt, of Japan's LPG imports, and for almost 80%, or about 4.5 million mt, of South Korea's imports.

Platts first proposed the change in a subscriber note published September 4, 2019 ((http://plts.co/CzJx30pSFbj).

CFR NORTH ASIA ASSESSMENTS: Platts has renamed the CFR Japan refrigerated propane and butane cargo assessments to CFR North Asia propane and CFR North Asia butane refrigerated assessments, respectively.

The renamed CFR North Asia assessments will carry the same price symbol codes as the current CFR Japan assessments and will reflect deliveries into both Japan and South Korea.

Platts' current CFR South Korea propane and butane differential assessments against the Saudi CP strip will be discontinued as a result of the change.

Platts will continue to publish three forward half-month cycles for the North Asia LPG benchmark assessments.

DISCONTINUATION OF NORTH ASIA ZONE ASSESSMENTS: Platts also discontinued its CFR North Asia Zone assessments for propane and butane, which reflects the average value of CFR Japan and CFR South China assessments, due to the change in the naming convention.

SINGAPORE-JAPAN 11:11: Platts also removed the term Singapore-Japan in reference to its spot 11:11 refrigerated LPG cargo assessments, and to name the assessments as CFR North Asia 11:11.

These assessments will continue to reflect the value of cargoes delivered to main ports in North Asia.

There will be no changes to the names of Platts Asian CFR and FOB pressurized LPG assessments.

NEW SPECIFICATIONS: Platts will also reflect the following specifications for its CFR North Asia, CFR South China and CFR Taiwan refrigerated LPG assessments in response to regional buyers' requirements and evolving supply into Asia.

Propane

Property Specifications

Ethane 2.0 Liq. Vol % max

Propane 90.0 Liq. Vol.% min.

Butanes & Heavier 4 Liq. Vol. % max.

Propylene 5.0 Liq. Vol.% max.

Vapor Pressure, psig at 100F 208 max

Volatile Residue:

Temperature @ 95% evaporation -37F max

Residue on evaporation of 100 ml 0.05 ml max

Oil Stain Observation Pass

Corrosion, Copper Strip No. 1

Total Sulfur 30 ppm wt. max.

Water Content No Free Water

Hydrogen Sulfide 5.0 max vol%

Butane

Propane & Lighter 2 max. Vol.%

Isobutane 8 min, 29 max. Vol. %

Normal Butane 68 min, 92 max. Vol.%

Pentanes & Heavier 1.5 Liq. Vol. % max.

Hexanes & Heavier 0.050 Liq. Vol. % max.

Total Olefins 0.35 Liq. Vol. % max.

Butadiene 0.01 Liq. Vol. % max.

Total Oxygenates 50 ppm wt. max.

Methanol 50 ppm wt. max.

IPA & Heavier Alcohols 5 ppm wt. max.

MTBE & Other Ethers 2 ppm wt. max.

Other Oxygenates 5 ppm wt. max.

Total Sulfur 140 ppm wt. max.

Water Content No Free Water

Fluoride 1 ppm wt. max.

Vapor Pressure at 100F 70 psig max.

Volatile Residue:

Temperature @ 95% evaporation 36F max

Corrosion, Copper Strip No. 1

Platts Asia CFR and FOB pressurized LPG assessments, as well as its Arab Gulf refrigerated LPG assessments are not impacted by the changes and continue

to reflect the current specifications after January 2, 2020.

Currently, Platts Asia and Middle East propane assessments reflect specifications that conform to typical specifications issued by Saudi Aramco,

including: minimum 95% propane content, maximum 4% butane content and maximum 0.1% olefin content.

Butane specifications reflected in Platts assessments conform to typical specifications issued by Aramco, including: maximum 2% propane content,

maximum 29% isobutane content, minimum 68% normal butane content and maximum 0.1% olefin content.

REDEFINITION OF SAUDI CP STRIP VALUE: Platts has redefined the strip value of the Saudi Contract Price to reflect the month ahead (M1) derivative contract.

This is in line with market practice of pricing cargoes loading 20-40 days forward against the Month 1 CP.

FOB AG LPG: Platts continues to publish propane and butane differentials against the CP strip (daily price symbol code PMABF00 for propane and PMABG00

for butane), which reflects the Month 1 CP contract from January 2, 2020.

And following the change, Platts has discontinued its existing differential assessments for spot cargoes loading 20-40 days forward in the Middle East

against the Month 1 CP (daily price symbol code AAKZA00 for propane and AAKZB00 for butane).

The outright FOB AG price for propane and butane reflects the sum of the cash differential and the Month 1 CP derivative.

CFR ASIA LPG DIFFERENTIALS: With the redefinition of Saudi CP strip value to reflect Month 1 CP, the basis of the propane and butane differential

assessments for Japan (which will be renamed to North Asia), South China and Taiwan, has changed to the Month 1 CP.

With this amendment, Platts has discontinued its propane and butane CP strip assessments for Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.

The full list of changes to Platts' existing assessments can be found here: http://plts.co/GJ9s30ptji1