SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts to harmonize FOB ARA xylene, toluene assessments

Following industry consultation, S&P Global Platts has decided to harmonize its FOB ARA assessments for mixed xylenes and toluene, effective January 2, 2018, reflecting a convergence of quality specifications in Europe.

Platts will harmonize the specifications of mixed xylenes in Europe to reflect product conforming to the latest edition of ASTM D-843, with one or more isomers removed; the non-aromatics content set at the maximum of 2% and the maximum ethylbenzene content at 20%.

There are no limits on metaxylene, paraxylene and orthoxylene content.

Platts will also rename Virgin Xylene FOB ARA assessments to Mixed Xylene FOB ARA, as part of the harmonization measures.

Platts will also harmonize the specifications for toluene to reflect product conforming to D-5606 latest edition, with a minimum purity of 99.9%, maximum benzene content of 300 mg/kg, maximum ethylbenzene content of 300 mg/kg, maximum xylenes content of 500 mg/kg and maximum non-aromatics content of 0.1% by weight.

Platts will database the FOB ARA assessments and averages for MX and toluene under the following symbols with the following descriptions:

Symbol Description PHABD00 Mixed Xylene FOB ARA PHBFQ03 Mixed Xylene FOB ARA MAvg PHABD04 Mixed Xylene FOB ARA WAvg AASFD00 Toluene TDI FOB ARA AASFD03 Toluene TDI FOB ARA MAvg AASFD04 Toluene TDI FOB ARA WAvg AASFF00 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo01 AASFF03 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo01 MAvg AASFF04 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo01 WAvg AASFJ00 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo02 AASFJ03 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo02 MAvg AASFJ04 Toluene TDI FOB ARA Mo02 WAvg

The mixed xylenes and toluene FOB ARA assessments will be published daily on the Platts Petrochemical Alert (PCA) pages: 328, 335, 233, 432, 370, 241, 446, 377, 540, 324 and weekly in Europe and Americas Petrochemical Scan and Solventswire.

Under this harmonization, Platts will discontinue the following symbols:

Symbol Description PHAAW00 Solvent Xylene FOB ARA PHBFP03 Solvent Xylene FOB ARA MAvg PHAAW04 Solvent Xylene FOB ARA WAvg PHAFP00 Solvent Toluene FOB ARA (Weekly) PHAZJ03 Solvent Toluene FOB ARA MAvg PHAFW00 Toluene T2 FOB ARA PHBFM03 Toluene T2 FOB ARA MAvg PHAFV04 Toluene T2 FOB ARA WAvg AAXOK00 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo01 AAXOK03 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo01 MAvg AAXOK04 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo01 WAvg AAXOL00 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo02 AAXOL03 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo02 MAvg AAXOL04 Toluene T2 FOB ARA Mo02 WAvg

Please send any comments or questions to pl_petchems_ln@platts.com and pricemethodology@platts.com.

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Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.