Chemicals, Aromatics
January 30, 2026
Platts proposes changes to Americas aromatics coverage
Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, is proposing changes to its Americas aromatics market coverage to better reflect typical market practice and provide enhanced insights to its customers, effective April 10, 2026.
FREQUENCY: Under this proposal, Platts would assess its US Gulf commercial grade toluene and orthoxylene and its FOB Brazil mixed xylene and nitration grade toluene spot price assessments on a daily basis, changing from a weekly (Fridays) frequency. This change would better reflect changes in market value in these markets and match the frequency of Platts nitration-grade toluene and mixed xylenes assessments.
LAYCAN: Platts proposes to change the loading laycan of its orthoxylene spot price, mixed xylene FOB Brazil and nitration grade toluene FOB Brazil to a current-month loading. The month would roll to the next month five calendar days prior to the end of the month. Currently these assessments reflect a 3-30 day forward loading laycan.
A full list of the proposed changes is below:
| Symbol description | Symbol | Proposed Frequency | Current Frequency | Proposed Laycan | Current Laycan | Current Publishing Calendar | Proposed Publishing Calendar |
| Commercial grade toluene M1 FOB US Gulf | PHAAO00 | Daily (weekdays) | Weekly (Friday) | No change proposed | Current month | US | US |
| Orthoxylene FOB US Gulf | PHABG00 | Daily (weekdays) | Weekly (Friday) | Current month | 3-30 days forward | US | US |
| Mixed Xylenes FOB Brazil | AASAQ04 | Daily (weekdays) | Weekly (Friday) | Current month | 3-30 days forward | Brazil | US |
| Nitration Grade Toluene FOB Brazil | AASAP04 | Daily (weekdays) | Weekly (Friday) | Current month | 3-30 days forward | Brazil | US |
The assessments can be found in Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan, on Platts Core and in the Platts Price Point Database.
Please send all comments, feedback and questions to petchems@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Feb. 13, 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.