Platts to launch FOB Rotterdam methanol assessments for two front months

Following market feedback, Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will start publishing two new methanol FOB Rotterdam assessments from July 11, 2022.

The new assessments will reflect the value of methanol based on spot pricing data for 1,000 mt barges loading during the front and second months on a Eur/mt FOB Rotterdam basis, up to the close of assessment process at 4:30 pm London time.

Platts will also publish the $/mt equivalent of these assessments. The new assessments will complement Platts existing suite of methanol assessments. Platts currently publishes an assessment for methanol loading 5-30 days forward from the date of publication, from Rotterdam.

Platts first proposed publishing these assessments in a subscriber note published May 5, 2022: https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/050522-platts-proposes-new-m1-and-m2-methanol-fob-rotterdam-assessments

The new assessments will mirror the specifications of the existing assessment and will reflect T2 product conforming to the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA) Reference Specification with a minimum purity of 99.85%, maximum water content of 0.1% by weight and maximum ethanol content of 50 mg/kg.

The assessments will roll over five business days (inclusive) before the end of the month. For example, in July 2022, the M1 assessment reflects material loading any time in July. On July 25, the M1 assessment will roll over to reflect methanol loading in August.

The new assessments will follow the London publishing schedule.

The new assessments will be published in the Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan and Solventswire publications, Platts Petrochemical Alert pages 1160, 346 and 432, on the Petrochemical service on Platts Dimensions Pro and in the Platts price database.

Please send any questions or comments to petchems@spglobal.com and 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 upon request.