Platts discontinues benzene FOB Rotterdam assessment to focus on daily CIF ARA spot

S&P Global Platts has discontinued its benzene FOB Rotterdam spot price assessment, effective March 31, 2021, to focus on the more liquid CIF ARA spot market.

The FOB discontinuation follows Platts observation of a lack of regular European export flows and reflects market feedback indicating that a large proportion of ex-European trade is priced on a CIF-ARA basis or a delivered-cost basis to final destination.

Platts will continue to publish its daily benzene CIF ARA 5-30 day and month 1 to month 5 assessments.

The decision follows a proposal on Nov. 13, 2020, in a subscriber note available here: https://bit.ly/38fyRT1. Platts confirmed the discontinuation on Jan. 4, 2021, in a subscriber note available here: https://bit.ly/39mP0aq.

The following assessments are affected by the discontinuation:

Benzene FOB Rotterdam, PHAAJ00

Benzene FOB Rotterdam weekly average, PHAVP04

Benzene FOB Rotterdam monthly average, PHBFJ03

Platts CIF ARA benzene spot assessments are published in Europe & Americas Petrochemicalscan, on Platts Petrochemical Alert fixed pages 233, 317, 320, 432, and 540, in the Platts price database and on the Platts Platform on the fixed pages described.

Please direct any questions or comments to petchems@spglobal.com with copy to pricegroup@spglobal.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.

Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available to the public upon request.