Platts proposes to reshape USG and Brazil Benzene Coverage

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, is proposing to reshape the coverage of US Gulf and Brazil benzene assessments to better reflect current trading norms, improve synergy between US Gulf and Brazil assessments, and enhance the timeliness of the coverage for these markets.

NEW BENZENE M3 ASSESSMENT: Platts is proposing to launch a new DDP USGC (HTC) Benzene price assessment to reflect deliveries during the third month from the date of publication (M3), effective March 23, 2026.

The assessment's specifications and terms would mirror those of the existing M1 and M2 assessments and would reflect product conforming to ASTM D-2359/90 in minimum 10,000 barrel clips. Pricing information for material with other specifications and terms would be normalized to the standard. The proposed assessment would reflect a spot value on a daily basis at 16:00 Central Standard Time and would follow the US publishing calendar. The assessment would roll to the next month five calendar days prior to the end of the month. For example, on Jan. 26, Platts' M3 DDP assessment would reflect March and on Jan. 27, Platts' M3 DDP assessment would reflect April.

FRONT-QUARTER BENZENE PRICE DISCONTINUATION: Simultaneously, Platts is proposing to discontinue the Q1 FOB USGC benzene price assessment, reflecting deliveries during the front quarter (Q1), effective May 4, 2026. This reflects feedback of limited liquidity during this laycan. The assessment is published in c/gal under the code AAIUN00 and reflects minimum 10,000 barrel clips. The assessment's associated monthly average (AIUO00) would also be discontinued.

BENZENE FOB BRAZIL: Platts is also proposing to start publishing the FOB Brazil benzene assessment on a daily basis and to update the loading laycan to current month, to align with the USG benzene coverage, effective March 23, 2026. As part of the change, the FOB Brazil price assessment would start following the US publication calendar. The assessment would roll to the next month five calendar days prior to the end of the month. For example, on Jan. 26, Platts' Brazil FOB benzene assessment would reflect January and on Jan. 27, Platts' Brazil FOB benzene assessment would reflect February. The FOB Brazil assessment is currently published every Friday, reflects loading 3-30 day forward and follows the Brazil publication calendar.

Details of all proposed changes are below:

Platts benzene assessments in the US and Brazil are published on Core, in Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan and on Petrochemical Alert fixed pages PCA005.

Please send all comments, feedback and questions to petchems@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Feb.11, 2026.

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 upon request.