Agriculture, Pesticides
May 12, 2025
Platts proposes to reform European Potassium Chloride assessments July 1
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to refine its methodology for the Potassium Chloride CFR W Europe and FOB Baltic assessments, effective July 1, 2025.
For the CFR W Europe standard and granular assessments (FKCID04 & FKCIR04), Antwerp would replace the broader western European area as the discharge port, reflecting its increased use as a regional hub. The minimum cargo size for the assessments would increase to 25,000 mt from 6,000 mt. Following these proposed changes, the assessments would better reflect large cargo deliveries into the region.
The FOB Baltic standard and granular assessments (FKCIF04 & FKCIO04) would be reformed to reflect growth in long-range exports from the region. The minimum cargo size would be changed to 30,000 mt from 6,000 mt, while St. Petersburg would replace the wider Baltic area as the basis port.
Platts would also launch a single number "close" value for all four assessments, with standardized high and low ranges $1/mt above (high) and below (low) the close value.
Proposed changes to the CFR W Europe assessments are as follows:
CFR W Europe | Current specifications | Proposed specifications |
Assessment name |
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Platts symbol |
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Quantity | Minimum size 6,000 mt | Basis 25,000 mt |
Basis and location | Based on spot sales. Countries covered: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain. Discharge ports: All ports in the covered countries, imports also via rail. Where sales are confirmed on a CPT or FCA basis, these can also be reflected once it has been netted back to CFR. Where no standard grade MOP sales have been confirmed, Platts will use the known granular MOP price and apply the prevailing price differential if appropriate. | spot, basis CFR Antwerp |
Timing | Product to be shipped up to 30 days forward | Delivery 7-45 days forward |
Proposed changes to the FOB Baltic assessments are as follows:
FOB Baltic | Current specifications | Proposed specifications |
Assessment name |
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Platts symbol |
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Quantity | Minimum size 6,000 mt | 30,000 mt |
Basis and location | Based on spot sales. Countries covered: Belarus, Russia. Loading ports include Klaipeda (Lithuania), St Petersburg (Russia), Kaliningrad (Russia), Ust-Luga (Russia). Where no standard grade MOP sales have been confirmed, Platts will use the known granular MOP price and apply the prevailing price differential if appropriate. | spot, basis FOB St. Petersburg |
Timing | Product to be shipped up to 30 days forward | Loading 7-30 days forward |
Each of the assessments are assessed weekly in $/mt with a 1630 UK timestamp. Price assessments currently are published weekly on Platts Connect, on S&P Connect and in the Platts database. They appear on a fortnightly basis in the Potash Market Report.
Please send any feedback, comments, or questions to Fertilizer@spglobal.com and PriceGroup@spglobal.com by May 26, 2025.
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.