SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts to discontinue some China fuel oil assessments

Platts confirms that it will discontinue domestic China fuel oil and dirty tanker assessments from January 2, 2014. The confirmation follows a proposal by Platts to end these assessments, published on October 1. Platts will discontinue the following South China and East China fuel oil assessments: FOB Shanghai, FOB Huangpu and STS Huangpu 180 CST 3.5%S; C+F Huangpu and C+F Shanghai 380 CST 3.5%S, C+F Shanghai straight run 180 CST 1.5%S, FOB Qingdao 180 CST 1.5%S. Platts will also discontinue China dirty freight rate assessments into Guangzhou, Qingdao and Shanghai. Platts will continue to collect and publish fixtures data. The suspensions reflect changing market conditions within China, where a rapid expansion of refining capacity over recent years, coupled with an increasing use of alternative utility feedstocks natural gas, has seen the domestic fuel oil market reduce in size and activity. Platts wishes to confirm it will continue to publish a variety of other assessments for crude oil and refined products in China, including assessments for: Butane CFR Refrigerated South China; Propane CFR Refrigerated South China; Gasoil 0.2% C+F South China; Gasoil (500 ppm) C+F South China; Gasoline Unleaded 90 RON FOB South China; Jet Kerosene C+F South China; and Daqing, Nanhai Light and Shengli crudes. These assessments are published on Platts Global Alert, Platts Asia-Pacific/Arab Gulf Marketscan and in the Platts price assessment database. Please send any comments, feedback or questions to asia_oilproducts@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.