SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts discontinues ex-wharf Durban bunker assessments

Platts has discontinued ex-Wharf Durban bunker fuel assessments with effect from December 1, 2016. The move reflects a change in trading dynamics in Durban, where traders have reported that bunker fuel is increasingly traded on a delivered basis.

In line with this change, on July 1, 2016, Platts launched two new delivered bunker fuel assessments for South Africa's Durban bunker fuel market. The new assessments reflect the value of 180 CST bunker fuel and Marine Gasoil delivered by barge in Durban, following feedback to a subscriber note published on May 9, 2016.

At the same time, participants in the Durban market reported that the volume of trading on an ex-wharf basis had fallen. Platts therefore announced in a subscriber note published on June 15 that it would discontinue existing ex-wharf Durban assessments with effect from December 1, 2016. Delivered and ex-wharf assessments were published alongside each other for a period of time to allow for comparison of relative value.

Prior to December 1, 2016, Platts published ex-wharf Durban 180 CST fuel oil assessments in Platts Bunkerwire, on Platts Global Alert and in its market assessment price database (the daily assessment was databased using code PUABR00, the monthly average database code was PUABR03). Platts' existing ex-wharf MGO assessment is published across the same locations (daily as AAXDB00, monthly average as AAXDB03).

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