Platts clarifies publishing guidelines for Middle East crude oil partials MOC

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, wishes to clarify publishing guidelines for an expression of interest to hit a bid or lift an offer for a partial of Dubai, Oman, Al Shaheen, Upper Zakum or Murban crude during the Middle East crude oil partials Market on Close assessment process.

Under the current Platts editorial guidelines, when an offer for Dubai is equal to or higher than any offers for Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum during the MOC process, the offers for Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum must be taken out first under Platts guidelines.

Similarly, when a bid for Dubai is equal to or higher than any bids for Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum partial, the Dubai bid must be taken out first under Platts guidelines.

From Jan. 2, 2026, bids for Dubai, Oman, Upper Zakum and Al Shaheen crude grades can be equal to or higher than an existing offer for Murban crude in the MOC process.

Similarly, offers for Murban can be equal to or lower than existing bids for Dubai, Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum partial in the MOC process.

In practice, this means Platts will publish an expression of interest to hit a Murban bid that is higher than, equal to or lower than an existing bid for Dubai, Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum in the MOC process. Similarly, Platts will publish an expression of interest to lift a Murban offer that is higher than, equal to or lower than an existing offer for Dubai, Oman, Al Shaheen or Upper Zakum in the MOC process.

This follows the amendment of Platts Murban crude assessment methodology to assess Murban crude without a floor to Dubai from Jan. 2.

Please send questions, comments or feedback to asia_crude@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.