Platts proposes to launch weekly USGC Group 2, Group 3 base oil assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, proposes to launch weekly USGC Group 2 and Group 3 base oil spot assessments on Dec. 11.

The proposed assessments would reflect Group 2 spot domestic and spot FOB export prices and Group 3 spot domestic prices.

Group 2 grades include 100N, 220N, and 600N; and Group 3 grades include 4CST, 6CST, and 8CST base oils, for a total of nine new assessments, broken down in six spot domestic assessments and three spot FOB export assessments.

The new Group 2 and Group 3 USGC assessments would be published in $/gal for domestic assessments and $/mt for export FOB assessments.

These would take into consideration price information gathered during the week ahead of the assessment, with indications normalized to the close at 2:30 pm ET US on Wednesday of each week.

The assessments would reflect the values of physical base oils cargoes at the close of 2:30 pm ET Wednesdays and would follow a US publishing schedule.

When a US public holiday falls on the planned publishing day, the assessment will be published the day prior to the public holiday.

Details of the proposed specifications:

Group 2 100N Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 0.5
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	19.5-21.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	4.0-4.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point	Minimum: 200 degrees Celsius
Pour Point	Maximum: minus 14 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 25 ppm
Density	7.0-7.1 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	33-37
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10-20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	311 gal/mt

Group 2 100N FOB USGC

ATSM Color	Maximum 0.5
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	19.5-21.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	4.0-4.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point	Minimum: 200 degrees Celsius
Pour Point	Maximum: minus 14 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 25 ppm
Density	7.0-7.1 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	33 -37
Clip Size	2,000-10,000 mt
Laycan	10-20 days forward loading
Port Basis	USGC
Pricing Basis	$/mt

Group 2 220N Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 1.0
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	39.5 - 42.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	6.25 - 6.75 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 215 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus12 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 100 ppm
Density	7.15 - 7.25 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	30.5 - 33
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	306 gal/mt

Group 2 220N FOB USGC

ATSM Color	Maximum 1.0
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	39.5 - 42.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	6.25 - 6.75 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 215 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 12 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 100 ppm
Density	7.15 - 7.25 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	30.5 - 33
Clip Size	2,000 - 10,000 mt
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Port Basis	USGC
Pricing Basis	$/mt

Group 2 600N Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 2.0
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	Minimum 105 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	12.0 - 12.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 240 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 12 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 300 ppm
Density	7.25 - 7.35 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	28.5 - 31
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	302 gal/mt

Group 2 600N FOB USGC

ATSM Color	Maximum 2.0
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	Minimum 105 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	12.0 - 12.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 95
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 240 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 12 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 300 ppm
Density	7.25 - 7.35 pounds per gallon
Gravity, °API	28.5 - 31
Clip Size	2,000 - 10,000 mt
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Port Basis	USGC
Pricing Basis	$/mt

Group 3 4CST Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 0.5
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	20.0 - 21.5 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	4.25 - 4.75 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 120
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 210 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 18 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 5 ppm
Density	6.9 - 7.0 pounds per gallon
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	317 gal/mt

Group 3 6CST Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 1.0
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	32.0 - 33.0 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	5.75 - 6.25 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 125
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 225 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 15 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 5 ppm
Density	7.0 - 7.1 pounds per gallon
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	314 gal/mt

Group 3 8CST Domestic FOB Rail tank

ATSM Color	Maximum 1.5
Appearance	Bright and Clear
Viscosity at 40 C	49.0 - 52.0 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity at 100 C	7.75 - 8.25 millimeters squared per second (cSt)
Viscosity Index	Minimum 125
Flash Point °C	Minimum: 240 degrees Celsius
Pour Point °C	Maximum: minus 12 degrees Celsius
Sulfur	Maximum 5 ppm
Density	7.0 - 7.1 pounds per gallon
Trade Size	Minimum 25,000 gallons
Laycan	10 - 20 days forward loading
Pricing Basis	$/gal
Conversion Factor $/gal to $/mt	312 gal/mt

Pricing information with terms, locations, and specifications different from the above standard may be considered for assessment purposes, subject to normalization.

These assessments would be added to Platts Global Alert Page 1146.

Please send any questions, comments, or feedback to americas_products@spglobal.com with a copy to pricegroup@spglobal.com by Nov. 22.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if they 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.