Final amendments to Asia gasoil specifications

Platts has concluded a thorough review of its proposals to amend and update quality specifications for its FOB Singapore gasoil/diesel assessments, following an extensive period of industry engagement that began in October 2009. Latest amendments are described below. The revised specifications will be made effective April 1, 2010.

Following latest feedback, Platts has amended the flash point and water content specifications reflected in its 10ppm gasoil assessment, and the distillation standard reflected in its 0.5% sulfur gasoil assessment. All other specification updates remain as proposed.

A full listing of proposed updates to specifications, and a table showing the changes, is available online at http://www.platts.com/IM.Platts.Content/MethodologyReferences/MethodologySpec s/singgasoil.pdf or http://bit.ly/singgasoil.

Any additional comments or queries should be sent to asia_oilproducts@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.

AMENDMENT: Flash point specification for 10 ppm diesel to be amended from min 64 to 61.5 C, under tests ASTM D93, EN 22719.

AMENDMENT: Water content specification for 10 ppm diesel to be amended from max 100 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg, under test EN ISO 12937.

AMENDMENT: Distillation T90 (90% recovered) specification for 0.5% sulfur gasoil to state max 370? C under test ASTM D86. Previously, 0.5% sulfur gasoil did not state the distillation temperature. Distillation T90 specification for 0.25% gasoil to state max 360 C. Previously, 0.25% sulfur gasoil specified distillation T95 at max 360 C. Distillation T95 specification for 500 ppm gasoil to state max 370 C, and distillation T90 specification of max 357 C removed. Distillation T95 specification maintained for 50ppm and 10 ppm diesel assessments at max 360 C.