Chemicals, Aromatics
April 08, 2026
ICE launches new benzene futures contract based on Platts CIF ARA assessment
By Archit Singh
Editor:
HIGHLIGHTS
Contract size is 100 metric tons
Comes amid higher MOC EU benzene activity
The Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE, listed a new CIF Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp benzene futures contract based on the Platts CIF ARA (AAOAX00) benchmark assessment on April 7.
The contract is based on the assessment specifications for the Platts CIF ARA assessment for physical cargo. The contract size is 100 metric tons.
The last trading day for the contract is the last trading day of the contract month.
| Contract Symbol | BPC |
| Contract Size | 100 metric tons |
| Unit of trading | Any multiple of 100 metric tons |
| Currency | US Dollars and cents |
| Minimum Price Fluctuation | One tenth of one cent ($0.001) per metric ton |
| Final Settlement Price | Based on the average of the Platts CIF ARA benzene marker AAOAX00 |
| Listing cycle | Up to 36 consecutive months, or as otherwise determined by the Exchange |
The launch comes amid a significant increase in Market on Close activity for spot European benzene. Indications for physical CIF ARA benzene as part of the eWindow process surged 582% year over year in 2025, according to Platts data.
The uptick in activity on the MOC platform reflects a broader industry trend toward greater transparency and a robust pricing methodology, complementing a simultaneous increase in survey-based data collected outside of the eWindow.
The ICE futures contract will be a key tool for benzene participants to hedge and manage risk within and outside the European region, with traders saying these instruments were especially important given current market volatility.
The Platts CIF ARA spot marker rose over 30%, or about $279/mt, across March following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, while opposing market forces of spiking energy complex values and ample European benzene supply led to significant volatility across the month, with prices swinging as much as $84/mt day to day amid the upstream movements.
The launch of the ICE futures contract will also be a key step toward increasing European market liquidity, following in the footsteps of the Platts FOB Korea benzene futures contract, which ICE listed in December 2025.
