Subscriber note: Platts proposes normalizing CIF Azeri Light crude oil to Ceyhan quality, publish FOB netback

Effective January 2, 2014, Platts proposes normalizing its Azeri Light crude oil, basis CIF Augusta, assessment to volumes loaded from the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Platts will continue to include in its assessment processes Azeri Light loading from the Black Sea ports of Batumi or Supsa but indications including these load ports may be normalized. The proposal to normalize to Ceyhan quality is due to a divergence in volumes and quality between Mediterranean and Black Sea loadings. Loadings from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Turkey are not subject to potential delays in the Turkish Straits into the Mediterranean. Platts will publish 80,000 mt and 135,000 mt FOB Ceyhan netback assessments, generated using the 80,000 mt CIF Augusta (loading basis Ceyhan) assessment and freight netbacks using Platts' daily freight rate assessments for 80,000 mt and 135,000 mt dirty vessels. Platts will continue to publish assessments reflecting FOB basis Supsa, which will continue to be derived as freight net-backed assessments from its CIF Augusta assessment. In October 2012, Platts amended the metric tons-to-barrels conversion factors for Azeri Light basis Ceyhan to 7.45 and for Azeri Light basis Supsa to 7.4, in order to more accurately reflect the quality of Azeri Light loading from Ceyhan. Please send any feedback by August 15 to europe_crude@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.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.