Chemicals, Fertilizers

November 21, 2024

Platts to launch CFR South China, CFR China River Sulfur assessments; refine CFR China Sulfur assessment Jan. 9

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will implement changes to its suite of CFR China sulfur assessments, effective Jan. 9, 2025.

The changes will refine the methodology and add granularity to Platts Sulfur coverage in the China region.

Platts first proposed this change on Nov. 1, available here.

The changes are summarized below, followed by detailed explanations.

  1. Launch of CFR China River and CFR South China sulfur assessments
  2. Change in methodology for CFR China (spot, granular) weekly range assessment (FSSCD04)
  3. Change in methodology for CFR China (molten) assessment ( AGRND00)
  4. Change in methodology for CFR China (molten, crushed, granular) (FSSCC04)

Launch of CFR China River and CFR South China sulfur assessments

Platts will launch two weekly single-number sulfur assessments, CFR China River and CFR South China, effective Jan. 9, 2025.

Detailed specifications for the new assessments are as follows:

Assessment Name Sulfur CFR China River Sulfur CFR China South
Quality Granular Granular
Quantity 45,000 mt 45,000 mt
Location CFR Zhenjiang CFR Fangcheng
Timing Delivery 18-50 days forward Delivery 18-50 days forward
Frequency Weekly, every Thursday Weekly, every Thursday
Appears in Sulphur Market Report Sulphur Market Report
Unit of assessment $/mt $/mt
Timestamp 1630 Penang close, following the Penang publishing calendar 1630 Penang close, following the Penang publishing calendar

Information regarding different location, cargo size and timing may be considered and normalized, where necessary, to align with the standard specifications listed above.

Change in methodology for CFR China (spot, granular) weekly range assessment (FSSCD04)

Simultaneously, Platts will change the methodology for its existing granular sulfur CFR China weekly range assessment, effective Jan. 9, 2025. The assessment would reflect the granular sulfur CFR China price, with the range derived from the two new assessments outlined above rather than being assessed in its own right. No other market information will be taken into account.

For example, if CFR China South is assessed at $105/mt and CFR China River at $108/mt on a given date, then Sulfur CFR China will be calculated as a range of $105-$108/mt.

Change in methodology for CFR China (molten) assessment (AGRND00)

Additionally, Platts will refine the methodology for its molten sulfur CFR China weekly range assessment, effective Jan. 9, 2025.

Detailed specifications for the proposed change in molten sulfur assessment ( AGRND00) are as follows:

Assessment Name Sulfur CFR China (Molten)
Quality Molten
Quantity 2,700 - 4,500 mt
Location CFR Lianyungang
Timing Delivery 14-31 days forward
Frequency Weekly, every Thursday
Appears in Sulphur Market Report
Unit of Assessment $/mt
Timestamp 1630 Penang close, following the Penang publishing calendar

Information regarding different location, cargo size and timing may be considered and normalized, where necessary, to align with the standard specifications listed above.

Change in methodology for CFR China (molten, crushed, granular) (FSSCC04)

Platts will also remove the crushed lump component in the existing Sulfur CFR China (molten, crushed, granular) (FSSCC04). Following this change, this weekly range assessment will no longer be assessed in its own right, but instead will always reflect the highest and lowest from:

  1. The new Granular Sulfur FOB China River assessment
  2. The new Granular Sulfur FOB China South assessment
  3. The Molten Sulfur CFR China (Lianyungang) outlined above (AGRND00)

Please submit any feedback, comments or questions to fertilizer@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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