SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts to publish USAC 0.5%S fuel oil assessment

Following industry feedback, S&P Global Platts will begin publishing daily barge assessments for residual marine fuel in New York Harbor reflecting a maximum sulfur limit of 0.5% starting January 2, 2019.

This decision follows a March 26 announcement by Platts of plans to publish spot assessments for 0.5% marine fuel oil in Houston, Rotterdam, Fujairah and Singapore with effect from January 2, 2019.

That announcement can be viewed at: https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/032618-pl atts-to-publish-05-sulfur-marine-fuel-assessments

The launch of these assessments would come 12 months ahead of the planned introduction of new sulfur limits in marine fuels by the International Maritime Organization on January 1, 2020.

The new assessment will be called "USAC Marine Fuel 0.5%." As with existing USAC fuel oil assessments, these assessments will reflect a minimum volume of 50,000 barrels delivered basis New York Harbor, 10-25 days forward from the date of publication, with a conversion factor of 6.35.

These new assessments will reflect specifications for RMG fuels as defined by the International Organization for Standardization in document ISO 8217:2010 Petroleum products - Fuels (class F) - Specifications of marine fuels, but with a sulfur cap of 0.5%.

Feedback received so far also suggests that new 0.5% sulfur marine fuel blends are likely to be of comparatively lower viscosity than prevailing fuels.

Please send all feedback and questions to oilgroup@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com

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