Platts decides to launch European methanol bunker fuel price assessments

S&P Global Platts has decided to launch daily methanol bunker fuel price assessments, reflecting the value of methanol used as a marine fuel at the port of Rotterdam, effective Sept. 27, 2021.

The decision recognizes growing market demand on the back of an increased build-out in vessels utilizing methanol as a marine fuel and related activities at this major bunkering hub.

Platts opened a formal proposal on Aug. 13, 2021, in a subscriber note available here: https://bit.ly/3jTiUZO

Platts will publish these assessments in $/mt delivered Rotterdam.

In determining the assessment, Platts may consider the prevailing tradable value of methanol bunker fuel on a barge-to-ship (delivered) or truck-to-ship (ex-wharf) basis and may take into consideration other local methanol bunkering hubs.

Platts will assess the differential from its daily methanol FOB Rotterdam spot assessment calculated in $/mt (HPACQ10), publishing the final assessment on a flat-price basis.

The methanol bunker fuel assessment flat price will include the logistics costs from the terminal to the barge or truck, and charges for delivery direct to the receiving vessel.

Additionally, Platts will publish methanol bunker fuel calculations converted to LNG and oil energy content equivalents, enabling comparison with other marine fuels, using the following factors to convert the methanol price from metric tons:

• Methanol bunker fuel value as LNG equivalent: 52 GJ/mt for LNG, 21.5 GJ/mt for methanol
• Methanol bunker fuel value as marine fuel oil equivalent: 41 GJ/mt for marine fuel oil, 21.5 GJ/mt for methanol

Alongside the launch of methanol bunker fuel assessments, Platts will further publish daily cost comparisons for alternative marine fuels, reflecting the calorific value comparison of methanol bunker fuel, LNG bunker fuel, marine fuel oil and marine gasoil, also from Sept. 27, 2021.

The comparisons would use the following conversion factors:

Methanol: 17.03 GJ/m3 and 0.792 mt/m3;

• LNG: 23.40 GJ/m3 and 0.45 mt/m3
• Marine fuel oil: 40.63 GJ/m3 and 0.991 mt/m3
• Marine gasoil: 42 GJ/m3 and 0.94 mt/m3

The European methanol bunker fuel assessments will be published in Platts Petrochemical Alert and Platts Petrochemical publications with the cost comparisons featuring in Platts Bunker Alert and Platts bunker fuel publications.

The assessment will also be published in Petrochemicals Service, Shipping Service, LNG service, Refined Products Service and Energy Transition service on Platts DimensionPro.

Beyond the immediate scope of this decision note, Platts is also considering introducing methanol bunker fuel assessments in Asia and the Americas and invites feedback on specifications and hubs in those regions.

Please send all comments, feedback and questions 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 upon request.