Platts to launch VLGC freight rate assessments for Persian Gulf to East Africa, US Gulf Coast to East Africa

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will launch two new daily assessments of LPG freight and their related monthly averages, effective Sept. 1, 2025, reflecting the value of LPG freight from the Persian Gulf to East Africa and from the US Gulf Coast to East Africa in response to market interest for price transparency on LPG imports into East Africa shipped on Very Large Gas Carriers.

Persian Gulf-East Africa

Platts will launch a Very Large Gas Carrier freight assessment for the Persian Gulf to East Africa route, effective Sept. 1, 2025.

This new assessment will be derived on a pro-rated basis from the underlying VLGC Persian Gulf-Japan rate. It will take into account the journey length between the Persian Gulf and East Africa and will be prorated from the Platts VLGC spot assessment for Persian Gulf-Japan (AAPNI00). It will factor in the typical sailing time from Ras Tanura to Mombasa and apply the relevant prorated value against the benchmark Persian Gulf-Japan freight rate. Additionally, Platts will consider any prevailing market information that reflects spot fixtures along the Persian Gulf to East Africa VLGC route.

The assessment will reflect VLGCs with a maximum size of 44,000 mt, scheduled for loading 20-40 days forward from the publication date.

The assessment will be published in Platts LPGaswire and on fixed pages PGL 2786.

The Persian Gulf to East Africa freight rates will reflect the value at the Singapore market close. The assessment will be published in dollars per metric ton and follow the Singapore publishing schedule.

US Gulf Coast-East Africa

Platts will also launch US Gulf Coast-East Africa VLGC freight rates for LPG, derived from the underlying Houston-Northwest Europe VLGC spot freight assessment (AAXIQ00), with effect from Sept. 1, 2025.

This new LPG freight rate will reflect the value of chartering a VLGC from Houston to Mombasa in East Africa to transport a 44,000 mt cargo of LPG, loading 15-45 days forward from the date of publication.

The USGC-East Africa freight rate will reflect the value at the Houston market close. They will be published in dollars per metric ton and follow the Houston publishing schedule.

Following market analysis and industry feedback, Platts will consider and review several parameters, including marine fuel prices at the relevant bunkering ports, port charges, typical vessel speed and fuel consumption in the calculation of the derived freight value.

The assessment will be published in Platts LPGaswire and on fixed pages PGA 780.

For questions and comments, please reach out to asia_products@spglobal.com, americas_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

If providing written comments, please indicate clearly if they are not intended for public viewing by Platts. All comments received will be considered, and those not marked as confidential will be made available upon request.