Subscriber note: Platts proposes to lower sulfur in Med bunker assessments

Platts invites feedback on a proposal to reflect a lower maximum sulfur level in its low sulfur Mediterranean bunker fuel assessments. Under its proposed change, Platts low sulfur Mediterranean bunker fuel assessments would reflect a maximum sulfur content of 1%, effective from July 1, 2013. Platts currently reflects low sulfur bunker fuel assessments with a sulfur cap of 1.5% in the Mediterranean. Reported trades of bunker fuel containing a lower sulfur cap are normalized to reflect 1.5% maximum sulfur in the assessment process. From July 2010, bunker fuel with a maximum of 1% sulfur became the most merchantable grade of low sulfur bunker fuel traded in Northwest Europe. Since then, most Mediterranean refiners and suppliers have shifted production and supply of low sulfur bunker fuel to reflect a maximum of 1%. Please send comments or questions by March 1, 2013 to europe_products@platts.com with a cc to pricegroup@platts.com.