Price Assessment

Platts European Methanol Assessments

  • What is European Methanol price assessment?
  • How we assess European Methanol price

What is European Methanol price assessment?

Platts assesses spot methanol reflecting material for loading/delivery in a rolling 5-30 day window from the date of publication, as well as FOB Rotterdam methanol assessments for two front months. Spot prices are assessed daily in Eur/mt FOB Rotterdam. The product must conform to the International Methanol Producers and Consumers Association (IMPCA) Reference Specification, with a standard cargo size of 1,000mt.

Price assessments are complemented by a daily commentary and rationale, which explains how the price assessment is reached and delves into the market fundamentals observed throughout the day.

Additionally, Platts publishes an industry-settled quarterly contract price in Eur/mt FOB Rotterdam. The quarterly contract price is updated at the start of the settlement quarter, once Platts has information that two independent buyers and two independent sellers have agreed on the same price. In the event that there is more than one price settlement, Platts generally publishes an average of these price settlements, as per industry convention. If a full settlement is not reached, Platts will not publish a quarterly contract price.

How we assess European Methanol price

Platts assessments are based on market information, including, but not limited to, firm bids and offers, and trades reported to the editor up to the close of business (4.30 pm London time).

All the information used to inform the assessment is published transparently on Platts platforms as "heards". An assessment rationale is published explaining what the assessments are and how they have been reached.

A daily market commentary accompanies the price assessments and rationale, which highlights the most important trends that have affected the markets that day and provides insight into what the market expects over the coming weeks.