Platts to reshape USG and Brazil Benzene Coverage

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, will 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.

Platts first proposed to reshape the coverage of US Gulf and Brazil benzene assessments on Jan. 28, 2026, in a subscriber note available here.

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

FRONT-QUARTER BENZENE PRICE DISCONTINUATION: Simultaneously, Platts will 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 will start publishing the FOB Brazil benzene assessment on a daily basis and 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 will start following the US publication calendar. The assessment will 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 will reflect January and on Jan. 27, Platts' Brazil FOB benzene assessment will reflect February. The FOB Brazil assessment is currently published every Friday, reflects loading 3-30 day forward and follows the Brazil publication calendar.

The final amended specifications are listed below:

Platts benzene assessments in the US and Brazil are published on Core, in Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan and on Petrochemical Alert fixed pages PCA0541, PCA0321, PCA0323, PCA0434, PCA0435, PCA0448, PCA0061, PGF0760 and PGF0761.

Please send all comments, feedback and questions to petchems@spglobal.com, copying pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.