Platts launches FOB Rotterdam 0.1%S ultra low sulfur fuel oil barge assessment Dec 1, 2025

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched a daily assessment for FOB Rotterdam 0.1%S ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) barges Dec. 1, 2025.

This follows an increase in demand for the fuel in Europe following the implementation of the Mediterranean Emissions Control Area from May 1, 2025.

Specifications: The assessment reflects RMG 380 specifications as per ISO 8217: 2017 Petroleum products -- Fuels (class F) on all parameters, with the addition of a minimum viscosity of 30 CST, in line with market feedback.

Size: The assessment reflects a barge size of 1,000 mt, with an operational tolerance of plus/minus 5%. Platts also publishes indications between 1,000 mt and 5,000 mt inclusive. Indications higher than 1,000 mt may be subject to normalization.

Port basis & assessment period: The assessment reflects the value of barges loading FOB basis Rotterdam-Antwerp, for loading 3-15 (Monday to Tuesday) or 5-15 (Wednesday through Friday) days forward, with value normalized to reflect the mean value of these loading ranges. Platts understands that barges typically trade for the front five days, middle five days or the back five days.

Product Origin: In line with all European fuel oil assessments, the FOB Rotterdam ULSFO barge assessments reflects non-Russian origin.

Assessment: The assessment is assessed as a flat price, in line with Platts' existing 3.5% and 0.5% Rdam barge assessments.

Nomination: A seller can nominate any reasonable terminal in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region for a FOB Rotterdam-Antwerp barge trade reported in the Market on Close assessment process, and the buyer should not unreasonably refuse this option. The seller should compensate the buyer for the demonstrable incremental freight cost associated with loading in an alternative port to Rotterdam-Antwerp. For FOB North West Europe barges across all products, the buyer must give the seller 48 clear working hours' notice of the date of loading required. The nomination procedure expectations are in line with Platts' 0.5% Rdam barge assessment expectations, as stated in the Europe and Africa Refined Oil Products Methodology guide, found here: https://www.spglobal.com/content/dam/spglobal/ci/en/documents/platts/en/our-methodology/methodology-specifications/refined-products/refined-products-europe-africa-specifications.pdf

Platts will launch eWindow instruments for this assessment on Dec. 15.

The FOB Rotterdam Marine Fuel 0.1% Barge assessment will be published to code FBEBR00, and on fixed pages PGA0030/PRF0030, PGA1112/PRF1112, PGA1510/PRF1510 and in European Marketscan.

Platts first proposed to launch this assessment on Oct. 10 in a subscriber note and published its decision to launch the assessment in a subscriber note on Oct. 31.

Please send any comments, feedback and questions to Europe_products@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 upon request.