Platts launches daily market-based US UCO and DCO price assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has launched daily US used cooking oil (UCO) and distiller's corn oil (DCO) assessments, effective Dec. 2.

Platts has noted increasing liquidity in the UCO, and DCO markets, particularly in Chicago, San Francisco and Houston, driven by demand for low carbon intensity and waste-based feedstocks for biomass-based diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

As such, Platts has launched three feedstock price assessments:

• UCO delivered to San Francisco ( UDSAF00)
• UCO delivered to Houston ( UDSAG00)
• DCO delivered to Chicago ( UDSAH00)

Deliveries to nearby locations such as New Orleans or Los Angeles may be considered and normalized back to basics location as appropriate.

The assessments reflect a manifest rail market, with a minimum volume of five rail cars, delivered at place (DAP), 15-30 days forward from date of publication.

The UCO assessment reflects maximum of 15% free fatty acids (FFA), and a max 2% moisture, impurities, and unsaponifiable (MIU).

The DCO assessment reflects maximum of 15% FFA and a max 3% MIU.

The launch of the new assessments was first proposed in a subscriber note published Oct. 7, available here.

A decision to launch the assessments was communicated on Oct. 31 in a subscriber note available here.

The assessments consider market information reported to Platts and published as heards throughout the day, including firm bids and offers, trades, and indicative values, as well as any other data deemed relevant to the assessment process.

These assessments are published as an outright price in US cents/lb, at 1:30 pm Houston time market close and would follow the Platts US publishing schedule.

The new assessments are published in the daily Platts biofuelscan report and weekly Biomass-Based Diesel report and on Platts Biofuels Alert service.

Please submit any feedback, comments, or questions about this proposal to mrts_biofuelsandfeedstocks@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.