Platts launches Methanol Base Rates, Carbon-inclusive Methanol Base Rates and EUA charges Jan 19

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched a full suite of yearly and dynamic Base Rates with Carbon-Inclusive and EUA charges for 1271 assessed routes effective Jan. 19, basis methanol bunker fuel.

Platts first proposed to launch the above assessments on Nov. 17 in a subscriber note available here .

These Base Rates serve as standardized estimates of the total cost for a round voyage of a methanol-powered tanker across all assessed freight routes, which include one or more loading and discharge ports. This excludes lump sum routes.

Platts Methanol Base Rates

Platts Methanol Base Rates consider an Aframax -class vessel basis 105,000 deadweight tonnage, charter hire at $16,500 per day, vessel laden and ballast speed at 13 knots, laden fuel consumption at 45.67 mt/day, ballast fuel consumption at 38.36 mt/day; fuel consumption while working at 38.75 mt/day; idling fuel consumption at 5 mt/day and four days' stay at port (two days for loading and two days for discharge).

The rates, assessed in $/mt, expand the current suite of Platts Base Rates based on alternative fuels such as LNG, which was launched on Oct. 16, 2023. Details can be referenced in the subscriber methodology note here .

The calculation of the Base Rates has one established assumption, which is to list all the possible costs for the entire voyage and divide them by the cargo of the standard vessel to arrive at the $/mt Base Rate, which equates to 100 points on the scale.

These rates include fuel expenses, port costs, agency fees, and other well-known miscellaneous costs. EU Allowance (EUA) charges are included in Methanol Carbon- inclusive Base Rates.

The 2025 yearly Methanol Base Rates are calculated using the average bunker prices for methanol bunker fuel for the period from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept . 30, 2025. For routes originating from the West of Suez, the Rotterdam methanol bunker fuel average price is $380.34/mt and for routes originating from the East of Suez, the Singapore m ethanol bunker fuel average price is $398.97/mt.

Platts Dynamic Base Rates, calculated on the daily bunker price, follow the London holiday calendar (symbol - CALLN00) for routes originating in the West of Suez region, while routes originating in the East of Suez follow the Singapore holiday calendar (symbol - CALSG00), available here .

The dynamic Methanol Base Rates are calculated using daily prices for methanol bunker fuel in Singapore (symbol - MLBSG00) and Rotterdam (symbol - MLBRT00).

Methanol Carbon-Inclusive Base Rates

In line with EU Directive 2023/959 of May 10, 2023, the Methanol Carbon-inclusive Base Rates fully reflect the costs to offset:

• 100% of CO2 emissions for intra-EU voyages and time spent at European Economic Area berths.
• 50% of CO2 emissions for all inbound and outbound voyages between EU and non-EU member states.
• 0% of CO2 emissions while the vessel is docked in non-EU member state ports.

The Platts methodology for the calculation of Carbon-inclusive Base Rates follows the phased-in approach outlined by the European Parliament regarding the reporting and payment of emissions, considering 100% of emissions reported in 2026 and payable in 2027.

The yearly Methanol Carbon-inclusive Base Rates are calculated basis an average of spot values of EUAs, Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, which is $78.91/mt-CO2.

The dynamic Methanol Carbon-inclusive Base Rates are calculated basis the spot value of EUA for the corresponding date (symbol - EADLP00) which follows the London holiday calendar (symbol – CALLN00).

Additionally, yearly and dynamic EUA charges basis methanol have been published as standalone values to represent the estimated cost of methanol carbon emissions of each assessed route.

Platts Base Rates are available on Platts Connect and can be accessed here .

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