SUBSCRIBER NOTE: PLATTS PROPOSES TO SPECIFY BENZENE CONTENT IN EUROPEAN MX METHODOLOGY

London (Platts)--28Jun2018/712 am EDT/1112 GMT

S&P Global Platts is proposing to specify benzene content in its mixed xylenes assessment methodology in Europe, effective September 3, 2018.

This follows industry comments that the bulk of MX produced and traded within Europe conforms to a maximum limit of 100 ppm benzene content.

Platts existing MX specifications reflect product conforming to the latest edition of ASTM D-843, with one or more isomers removed; the non-aromatics content set at the maximum of 2% and the maximum ethylbenzene content at 20%. There are no limits on metaxylene, paraxylene and orthoxylene content.

Property: Specifications:

Non aromatics content, max 2% Ethylbenzene content, max, vol 20% Color, max, Pt-Co scale 20 Distillation range, max 5 Celsius Initial distillation temp, min 137 Celsius Dry point, max 143 Celsius Acid wash color, max pass with 6 Copper corrosion, max pass (1A or 1B) Appearance Clear liquid free of sediment and haze when observed at 18.3 to 25.6 C (65 to 78F)

Platts MX assessments are published on Petrochemical Alert (PCA) pages: 328, 335, 233, 432, 370, 241, 446 and 540. They are also published in Europe & Americas Petrochemicalscan, Solventswire and in the Platts price database under the following symbols:

Mixed Xylenes CIF ARA MXEAA00 Mixed Xylenes CIF ARA Mo01 MXEAB00 Mixed Xylenes CIF ARA Mo02 MXEAC00 Mixed Xylenes FOB ARA PHABD00 Mixed Xylenes CIF ARA Mo01 spread to EBOB FOB ARA swap MXPRA00 Mixed Xylenes CIF ARA Mo02 spread to EBOB FOB ARA swap MXPRB00

Platts invites all stakeholders and interested parties to engage in the feedback process. The feedback period will conclude on July 31, 2018.

Please send comments and questions to pl_petchems_ln@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.