Platts proposes USGC fuel oil timing changes

Platts is proposing to change the timing window for its physical US Gulf Coast fuel oil assessments to 5-13 days forward from date of publication on June 1, 2010. Currently, all Platts USGC fuel oil assessments reflect 4-12 days forward from date of publication. Platts has received feedback from participants that operational issues 4 days forward due to the prompt nature of that timing can cause distortions in the market.

As part of this proposal, Platts is also seeking to standardize the timing laycans that are bid or offered during the Market on Close assessment process in the following manner: front window (5-7 days forward), middle window (8-10 days forward), back window (11-13 days forward), and full window (5-13 days forward, with the counterparty to declare 3 day window upon lifting).

Please respond with questions or comments by March 31, 2010 to Robert Mayer, robert_mayer@platts.com, Esa Ramasamy, esa_ramasamy@platts.com, with a cc to pricegroup@platts.com.