Platts proposes to change European hydrocarbon solvents specifications

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to specify a cumene content of a maximum 0.10% for its solvent naphtha, solvent mixed xylenes and white spirit assessments, effective Dec. 11.

The proposed change would reflect a growing market shift towards low-cumene solvent naphtha, solvent mixed xylenes and white spirit in the domestic market, ahead of the impending implementation of the European Commission's regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures on Nov. 23.

Platts recognizes that the regulation has seen market participants in the European hydrocarbon solvents market increasingly opt for solvent naphtha, white spirit and solvent mixed xylenes with a lower cumene content -- typically below a 0.10% percentage weight.

The Commission's regulation will see products with a percentage weight of cumene above 0.10% labelled with the below hazard codes:

H226 -- Flammable liquid and vapor.

H350 -- May cause cancer state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard.

H304 -- May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.

H335 -- May cause respiratory irritation.

H411 -- Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

The affected products are:

Product Symbol Incoterm Currency

Solvent NaphthaHPAGN00FD NWE EUR/MT

Solvent NaphthaPHAGO00 FOB Rotterdam$/MT

Solvent MX HPAGC00FD NWE EUR/MT

White Spirit HPACS00FD NWE EUR/MT

White Spirit PHACT00FOB Rotterdam$/MT

Platts proposes to specify the cumene content for the existing MX, solvent naphtha and white spirit assessments in line with the specifications below:

Solvent naphtha: Minimum density of 0.870 g/ml at 15 degrees Celsius, minimum total aromatics content is 99% and maximum water content is 0.03%, maximum cumene content 0.01%.

Solvent xylene: Product must conform to ASTM D-843 with one or more isomers removed, maximum cumene content 0.01%.

White spirit: Minimum density of 0.770 g/ml at 15 degrees Celsius, minimum aromatics content of 15% and a distillation range of 145-200 degrees Celsius, maximum cumene content 0.01%.

Platts understands that low cumene content material can attract a price-premium over higher content material which depends on the product in question.

Platts has observed a Eur40-50/mt premium for low-cumene content solvent naphtha and white spirit, and a Eur10/mt premium for low-cumene content solvent MX.

Please send all feedback, comments, and questions by Nov. 10 to petchems@spglobal.com with a copy to pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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