SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes to launch new N Asia box rates, amend UK Cont rates

Following market feedback, S&P Global Platts proposes to launch four new north Asia box rate assessments and amend two existing UK Continent assessments, with effect from December 1, 2017.

Platts has received market feedback that box rates for routes commencing, or ending, in the UK and heading to north Asia differ observably from those commencing, or ending, in north Europe.

Platts therefore proposes to amend its existing UK Continent to North Asia and North Asia to UK Continent assessments to reflect only routes commencing or ending in north Europe and to rename both assessments. Under this proposal, the existing assessment PBR1 would be renamed from "North Asia to UK Continent" to "North Asia to North Continent" and PBR2 would be renamed from "UK Continent to North Asia" to "North Continent to North Asia".

Platts also proposes to launch new assessments reflecting rates to and from the UK, in addition to new transpacific assessments.

The four new routes would be: North Asia to UK UK to North Asia North Asia to West Coast North America (Transpacific) West Coast North America to North Asia (Transpacific)

The new daily assessments would reflect the freight prices of carrying forty-foot equivalent (FEU) containers on selected front-haul and back-haul container routes. These new assessments would be published along with existing box rates on the fixed page PGA - MH3950 and on the Dry Freight Wire. The new assessments would be published on a $/FEU basis, to reflect how these routes are traded.

The Platts Container Index (PCTRI00), which is based on a weighted average of the 10 spot routes that Platts assesses, would change to include the new routes, bringing the total number of base assessments to 14 routes. The percentages have been derived from Platts cFlow analysis, based on AIS data tracking ship movements between regions. The percentages in the weighted average undergo regular revisions.

The new assessments would reflect established global container trade routes and are based on modern container carrier tonnage.

Please send all comments or questions by October 16, to shipping@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.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.