SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes to launch new USGC loading dirty tanker assessments

Platts proposes to launch four new dirty tanker assessments from the US Gulf Coast to Asia Pacific and Europe, effective March 1, 2018.

The new assessments would reflect the increasing volume of crude exports from the US Gulf Coast to international markets since the lifting of the US crude export ban in December 2015.

For destinations in the Asia Pacific region, the new assessments would be published on a lump-sum basis and would be expressed as US dollars per voyage. For voyages to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean, the new assessments would be published on a Worldscale basis and would be expressed as Worldscale points. Both would reflect how these routes are traded. Platts also would publish the equivalent US dollar per metric ton value for these assessments. The following new assessments are under consideration:

WORLDSCALE US GULF COAST TO UK CONTINENT AFRAMAX: This assessment would reflect the US Gulf Coast to UK Continent route for a dirty Aframax tanker carrying a cargo of 70,000 mt. The assessment would reflect loadings from the US Gulf Coast, including Corpus Christi, Houston and Port Arthur (Nederland), and discharge at Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Fawley in the UK.

WORLDSCALE US GULF COAST TO MEDITERRANEAN AFRAMAX: This assessment would reflect the US Gulf Coast to Mediterranean route for a dirty Aframax tanker carrying a cargo of 70,000 mt. The assessment would reflect loadings from the US Gulf Coast, including Corpus Christi, Houston and Port Arthur (Nederland), and discharge at Cartagena, Spain, Fos/Lavera, France, and Savona, Italy.

LUMPSUM US GULF COAST TO CHINA VLCC: This assessment would reflect the US Gulf Coast to China route for a Very Large Crude Carrier carrying a cargo of 270,000 mt. The assessment would reflect loadings from the US Gulf Coast, including the Galveston Offhshore Lightering Area (GOLA) and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), and discharge at China's northern coastal ports, including Qingdao and Dongjiaku.

LUMPSUM US GULF COAST TO SINGAPORE VLCC: This assessment would reflect the US Gulf Coast to Singapore route for a Very Large Crude Carrier carrying a cargo of 270,000 mt. The assessment would reflect loadings from the US Gulf Coast, including the Galveston Offhshore Lightering Area (GOLA) and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), and discharge at Singapore.

Please send all comments or questions by January 30, 2018 to shipping@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 to the public upon request.