SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts discontinues publishing industry-settled European styrene contract price

Effective May 1, 2019, S&P Global Platts has discontinued publishing the industry-settled European styrene contract price in its price assessment tables, database, fixed pages and weekly publications.

The discontinuation reflects industry feedback of fewer settlement parties in the contract price negotiation process. Diverging price levels reported in recent monthly negotiations have made settlement increasingly challenging and have caused some participants to question the credibility of the contract price mechanism.

Platts is committed to publishing robust daily styrene spot price assessments. Spot prices reflect the marginal ton and the increasingly interconnected nature of the global styrene market. In Europe, Platts styrene spot assessments are basis FOB ARA loading 5-30 days forward. Platts also publishes daily assessments of current month and forward month prices.

Platts will continue to report on developments in the European styrene market in its real-time news service and daily market commentaries.

The contract price discontinuation affects the following Platts symbols and publications: Styrene FOB ARA Barge CP Eur/mt (AAVXH00) and Styrene FOB ARA Barge CP Eur/mt Mavg (AAVXH03), petrochemical Alert pages PC0376, PC0338 and PC0605, Polymerscan, Europe and Americas Petrochemical Scan, and market Data category AE - Petchems: Aromatics Europe.

Please direct any comments and questions to pl_petchems_ln@spglobal.com with a copy to pricegroup@spglobal.com. For written comments, please provide a clear indication if they 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.