Platts proposes to discontinue benzene FOB Rotterdam assessment March 31, 2021

Following a period of consultation, S&P Global Platts is proposing to discontinue its benzene FOB Rotterdam daily assessment effective March 31, 2021, to concentrate on the more liquid benzene CIF ARA spot market.

The proposal follows Platts' observation of a lack of regular European export flows. Further feedback from the market indicates that a large proportion of ex-European trade reflects a CIF ARA pricing basis or a delivered-cost basis to final destination.

Platts will continue to publish its existing benzene CIF ARA 5-30 day and month 1 to month 5 assessments.

Platts opened a formal consultation into the FOB Rotterdam assessment on Sept. 22, in a subscriber note available here: https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/092220-platts-launches-consultation-on-benzene-fob-rotterdam-assessment

The consultation period was subsequently extended to Oct. 23, 2020.

The following assessments would be affected by the proposed discontinuation:

Assessment name, code

Benzene FOB Rotterdam, PHAAJ00

Benzene FOB Rotterdam weekly average, PHAVP04

Benzene FOB Rotterdam monthly average, PHBFJ03

The assessments are published in Europe & Americas Petrochemicalscan, on Platts Petrochemical Alert fixed pages 233, 317, 320, 432, and 540 in the Platts price database under the codes above.

Platts invites feedback by Dec. 17, 2020, to petchems@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.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 to the public upon request.