Platts proposes to discontinue toluene CFR Taiwan LC 0-30 days assessment Jan. 4, 2021

S&P Global Platts is proposing to discontinue its CFR Taiwan toluene weekly assessment effective Jan. 4, 2021.

The proposal follows Platts observation of a significant decline in spot volumes; the number of physical bids, offers and trades heard on a CFR Taiwan basis over the last few years has decreased significantly. The slowdown in liquidity also follows Taiwan turning into a net toluene exporter in 2014 as domestic demand falls.

Taiwan's toluene imports have since fallen sharply to 80,977 mt in 2019, while exports rose to 359,963 mt, data from Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade showed.

The assessments affected by the proposed discontinuation are:

Assessment name, code

CFR Taiwan LC 0-30 days $/mt, PHAFQ00

Toluene CFR Taiwan $/mt monthly average, PHBGW03

These assessments are currently published in the Asian Petrochemicalscan and on Platts Petrochemical Alert fixed pages 235, 326 and 436 in the Platts price database under the codes above.

Please send questions or comments by Sept. 25, 2020 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 to the public upon request.