Chemicals, Aromatics, Solvents & Intermediates

December 12, 2023

Platts changes European hydrocarbon solvents specifications

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, has amended its hydrocarbon solvents specifications to specify a cumene content of a maximum 0.1% for its solvent naphtha, solvent mixed xylenes and white spirit assessments, effective Dec. 12.

The decision to specify a cumene content of maximum 0.1% was first published in the subscriber note below:

https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/111323-platts-to-change-european-hydrocarbon-solvents-specifications

The change in specifications reflects a market shift toward low-cumene solvent naphtha, solvent mixed xylenes and white spirit in the domestic market, amid the recent implementation of the European Commission's regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures on Nov. 23.

Platts recognizes that the regulation has seen market participants in the European hydrocarbon solvents market increasingly opt for solvent naphtha, white spirit and solvent mixed xylenes with a lower cumene content -- typically below a 0.1% percentage weight, with a spot market premium being observed for low cumene hydrocarbon solvent products.

The affected products are:

Product Code Monthly Average Incoterm Currency
Solvent Naphtha HPAGN00 HPAZI03 FD NWE EUR/MT
Solvent Naphtha PHAGO00 PHAZH03 FOB Rotterdam $/MT
Solvent MX HPAGC00 HPAZP03 FD NWE EUR/MT
White Spirit HPACS00 HPAZT03 FD NWE EUR/MT
White Spirit PHACT00 PHAZS03 FOB Rotterdam $/MT

Platts has specified the cumene content for the existing MX, solvent naphtha and white spirit assessments in line with the specifications below:

Solvent naphtha: Minimum density of 0.870 g/ml at 15 degrees Celsius, minimum total aromatics content is 99%, maximum water content is 0.03%, and maximum cumene content is 0.1%.

Solvent xylene: Product must conform to ASTM D-843 with one or more isomers removed, maximum cumene content is 0.1%.

White spirit: Minimum density of 0.770 g/ml at 15 degrees Celsius, minimum aromatics content of 15%, a distillation range of 145-200 degrees Celsius, maximum cumene content is 0.1%.

The affected assessments are published on Platts Petrochemical Alert pages 370, 446, in Solventswire and on Platts Connect under the above-mentioned codes.

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