06 Dec 2010 | 04:19 UTC — Houston

New US Gulf Coast ULSD ratable assessment January 3

Following a period of industry feedback Platts will launch a new assessment for the value of the front month, US Gulf Coast ratable supply contract for ultra low sulfur diesel (61 Grade) beginning January 3, 2011.

A ratable contract stipulates that a seller will supply 25,000 barrels of ULSD per Colonial Pipeline cycle, throughout the contractual month. There are typically six pipeline cycles per month.

Under the new assessment, Platts will roll the month being assessed over to the following month after the first cycle of the front month is scheduled.

For example, if the first ULSD ratable pipeline cycle in February is scheduled on January 21, Platts will start to publish the March USGC, ULSD ratable contract with effect from the next business day.

The assessment will be published in Platts US Marketscan and on page 19 of the real-time service Platts Global Alert. It will also be available in the Platts price database, in Dispatch category PN, under a data code that will be announced in due course.

Please send questions and comments to americas_products@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.