Platts extends consultation on FOB Singapore gasoline specifications until August 2025

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, is extending the consultation process to review the specifications reflected in its FOB Singapore 92 RON, 95 RON and 97 RON assessments into August 2025.

In January, Platts started a consultation with the market to review the suitability of continuing to assess these grades with the maximum sulfur level of 50 ppm and lead content at a maximum lead level of 0.013 gpb/l ahead of anticipated changes in trade flows and evolving quality standards in oxygenated gasoline.

Market feedback received during the initial consultation phase suggests while announced changes to evolving fuel quality standards in Malaysia and Australia, if implemented, are likely to impact trade flows across the Asia Pacific and the Middle East, though the exact timelines for when these changes will impact the underlying specifications of gasoline cargoes traded in the Singapore market remains uncertain at this point. Platts is therefore extending the market consultation to Aug. 29 to invite further feedback, in particular around suitable timelines for any changes to take effect.

Platts understands that Malaysia, a key gasoline importer, has announced a three-year step change to move from its domestic gasoline specifications from the current Euro 4M to Euro 5M by 2027. Malaysia is expected to lower the sulfur and lead limits for its domestic gasoline in 2025, followed by several changes in distillation, Reid Vapor Pressure, oxygen content and oxygenates in 2026. Platts understands the final changes to tighten its current benzene, olefins and aromatics limits will take place in 2027.

Specifically on sulfur standards, Platts understands Malaysia has set a timeline of Sept. 1 to lower the sulfur limit for its 95 RON gasoline to 10 ppm, down from the country's current standard of 50 ppm.

In addition, Platts understands that Australia, the region's largest non-oxygenated importer, will lower its sulfur limit for gasoline in the country from the current 150 ppm for 92 RON and 50 ppm for 95 RON to 10 ppm for both grades by December.

Initial market feedback suggests these changes reflect evolving quality standards in Asia and are likely to impact specifications of gasoline stored and traded in the Singapore market, which typically reflects supply and demand across the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Platts periodically reviews the specifications of all its assessments to ensure they are representative of the most tradable grades. Such reviews may lead to changes to the existing specifications of an assessment, though any changes would be subject to further industry consultation ahead of any final decision.

Platts last updated the specifications of these assessments on July 1, 2019.

Current specifications for FOB Singapore 92 RON, 95 RON and 97 RON gasoline are as follows:

Property Unit Standard

Research Octane Number (RON) - Min 92, Min 95, Min 97

Lead content gPb/l Max 0.013

Density@15degreesC g/ml Min 0.72

Reid Vapor Pressure psi Max 9.0

Distillation - -

Initial Boiling Point degreesC Report

10% evaporated degreesC Max 74

50% evaporated degreesC Min 80, Max 127

90% evaporated degreesC Max 190

Final Boiling Point degreesC Max 215

Residue %vol Max 2.0

Loss % vol 2

Odor - Marketable

Existent gum mg/100 ml Max 4

Benzene content % vol Max 2.5

Sulfur % wt Max 0.005

Doctor Test - Negative

or Mercaptan sulfur wt. ppm Max 15

Mercaptan sulfur % wt Max 0.0015

Copper corrosion (3 hours at 50degreesC) - Max 1

Induction period minutes Min 240

Oxygenates content % vol Max 14.0 (of which maximum MTBE content of 10.0)

Aromatics % vol 40

Olefins % vol 25

Color - Undyed, colorless to light yellow

Alcohol - No additions of any alcohol

Metallic Additives - None added

Acetone ppm Max 100

Platts' specifications for the Singapore gasoline assessments can also be found here(opens in a new tab).

In addition to the potential amendments to the gasoline specifications reflected in its methodology, Platts is inviting feedback on suitable timelines for any changes to take effect.

The following FOB Singapore assessments, published in Asia-Pacific/Arab Gulf Market Scan and Platts Global Alert pages 2304 and 2310 are under review as part of this market consultation:

Assessment Code

Gasoline Unl 97 FOB Singapore Cargo PGAMS00

Gasoline Unl 95 FOB Singapore Cargo PGAEZ00

Gasoline Unl 92 FOB Singapore Cargo PGAEY00

Please send any comments or feedback under this consultation to asia_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Aug. 29.

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 those not marked as confidential available upon request.