Fertilizers, Chemicals, Energy Transition, Renewables
April 30, 2025
Platts proposes launch of daily CFR Far East Asia ammonia assessments; refine weekly CFR Far East ammonia specifications June 27
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, is proposing to launch daily Far East Asia ammonia assessments and to amend the specifications of its existing daily and weekly CFR Far East ammonia assessments, effective June 27, 2025.
In a bid to provide a more granular view of one of the largest import regions for ammonia, Platts is proposing the launch of three daily (Monday-Friday) single number spot assessments of CFR markets for ammonia in Mainland China, Taiwan and Japan.
In addition, Platts proposes to narrow the basis location of the existing daily CFR Far East (FAFAA00) to Ulsan, South Korea.
The specifications of the proposed new daily ammonia assessments and adjusted daily CFR Far East assessment are detailed below:
Ammonia CFR Mainland China
Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity
Quantity: Basis 5,000-15,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point.
Basis and location: Spot cargoes only. Basis location Caojing, China.
Timing: Delivery one to six weeks forward
Frequency: Daily
Unit of assessment: $/mt
Timestamp: 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar
Ammonia CFR Taiwan
Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity
Quantity: Basis 5,000-15,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point.
Basis and location: Spot cargoes only. Basis location Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Timing: Delivery one to six weeks forward
Frequency: Daily
Unit of assessment: $/mt
Timestamp: 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar
Ammonia CFR Japan
Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity
Quantity: Basis 5,000-15,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point.
Basis and location: Spot cargoes only. Basis location Niihama, Japan.
Timing: Delivery one to six weeks forward
Frequency: Daily
Unit of assessment: $/mt
Timestamp: 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar
Ammonia CFR Far East (FAFAA00)
Quality: Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and is stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degree Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity
Quantity: Basis 5,000-15,000 mt, with relevant price information normalized to this point
Basis and location: Spot cargoes only. Basis location Ulsan, South Korea.
Timing: Delivery one to six weeks forward
Frequency: Daily
Unit of assessment: $/mt
Timestamp: 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar
It is also proposed that the specifications of the existing weekly CFR Far East ammonia assessment (FAFAA04) be adjusted and aligned with those of the existing daily CFR Far East assessment and the proposed CFR Mainland China, CFR Taiwan and CFR Japan assessments.
Under this alignment, the contract element of the weekly CFR Far East assessment would be removed, and the quantity specification narrowed to 5,000-15,000 mt.
In addition, Platts would standardize the relationship between the proposed and existing daily single number assessments from east Asia and the established weekly CFR Far East low-high assessment. The weekly CFR Far East assessment is currently published as a range with a low and high value. Under this proposal, the weekly range would consistently reflect the lowest and highest of the daily East Asian CFR assessments published over the course of the preceding week.
The proposed adjustments to the specifications of the established weekly CFR Far East assessment are detailed below:
| Current specifications | Proposed specifications | |
| Assessment Name | Ammonia CFR Far East – weekly (FAFAA04) | Ammonia CFR Far East – weekly (FAFAA04) |
| Quality | Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius | Anhydrous ammonia, which is around 82% Nitrogen and stored and transported as a liquid under pressure at around minus 33 degrees Celsius, with no restrictions on carbon intensity |
| Quantity | Minimum 4,000 mt | Basis 5,000-15,000 mt |
| Basis and Location | Spot and contract. Ammonia-importing ports/terminals in Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan | Spot. Basis locations Ulsan (South Korea), Caojing (China), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Niihama (Japan). The weekly CFR Far East range assessment reflects the lowest and the highest of the daily CFR Far East, CFR Mainland China, CFR Taiwan and CFR Japan assessments published over the course of the preceding week. |
| Timing | Delivery one to six weeks forward | Delivery one to six weeks forward |
| Frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Unit of assessment | $/mt | $/mt |
| Timestamp | 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar | 16:30 Penang close, published according to the Penang publishing calendar |
The proposed daily CFR Mainland China, CFR Taiwan and CFR Japan assessments would be available via Platts Connect.
The daily CFR Far East assessment would continue to appear in the Fertecon Daily PDF and be available via Platts Connect, while the weekly CFR Far East assessment would continue to appear in the Ammonia Market Report PDF and be available via Platts Connect.
Please send any feedback, questions and comments to fertilizer@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by May 27.
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 upon request.