Platts plans to launch Asia caustic soda assessments

Following discussions with the industry, Platts proposes to introduce two weekly spot price assessments for Asian liquid grade caustic soda, basis FOB Northeast Asia and CFR Southeast Asia from June 7, 2011.

FOB NEA will be based on cargoes to be loaded 20-40 days from date of publication, and will be based on the ports of South Korea (Daesan, Ulsan, Yeosu), Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Mailiao), Japan (Mizushima, Chiba, Tokuyama, Kashima, Ube, Oita, Yokkaichi, Kawasaki), and China (Shanghai, Dalian, Nanjing, Shantou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nantong, Tianjin, Ningbo).

CFR SEA will be based on cargoes for delivery 20-40 days from date of publication and will be based on the ports of Indonesia (Merak), Philippines (Manila), Thailand (Map Ta Phut), Malaysia (Kertih).

Both assessments for FOB NEA and CFR SEA will be based on cargoes with a size of 2,000-6,000 mt, with L/C up to 30 days.

Price assessments will reflect the close of Asia markets, time stamped at 4:30 pm Singapore time (0830 GMT), and subjected to the typical guidelines of the Platts Market-On-Close assessment process.

These new assessments will be published on Platts Petrochemical Alert and in the Solventswire.

Please send any queries or comments by March 22 to Fumiko Dobashi at fumiko_dobashi@platts.com with a copy to petchems@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.