Platts proposes Western Japan bunker assessments

Platts is seeking feedback on a proposal to launch of Western Japan bunker assessments for 180 CST, 380 CST bunker fuel and marine diesel oil.

The daily assessments would be published along with Platts' existing Tokyo Bay bunker assessments.

Platts' Western Japan assessments would reflect bids, offers and trades for bunker fuel delivered in Setouchi (includes Mizushima and Fukuyuma ports), Kyushu (Oita port) and Hanshin areas (Kobe and Osaka ports).

Setouchi accounts for more than a third of all volumes and covers the most active ports in Western Japan and has some independent storage, so activity in other ports would be normalized to Setouchi after taking into account barging costs.

Typical trading volumes in Western Japan range from 300mt to 2,500mt.

The assessment would reflect market activity 3-7 days out of publication.

Please send all comments by July 24, 2009 to asia_bunkers@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.