Platts launches new USGC benzene assessment, makes changes to Brazil benzene coverage

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

Platts first proposed these changes to benzene assessments Jan. 28, 2026, in a subscriber note available here. The communication to implement these changes was subsequently published in a note available here.

NEW USGC BENZENE M3 ASSESSMENT: Platts has launched 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 mirror those of the existing M1 and M2 assessments and 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 assessment reflects spot value daily at 4 pm CT and follows the US publishing calendar. The assessment rolls to the next month five calendar days prior to the end of the month. For example, on March 26, the Platts M3 DDP assessment will reflect May, and on March 27, the Platts M3 DDP assessment will reflect June.

BENZENE FOB BRAZIL: Platts has started publishing the FOB Brazil benzene assessment on a daily basis and updated the loading laycan to the current month to align with USG benzene coverage, effective March 23, 2026. As part of the change, the FOB Brazil price assessment now follows the US publication calendar. The assessment rolls to the next month five calendar days prior to the end of the month. For example, on March 26, the Platts Brazil FOB benzene assessment will reflect March, and on March 27, the Platts Brazil FOB benzene assessment will reflect April. The FOB Brazil assessment was previously published every Friday, reflected loading three to 30 days forward and followed the Brazil publication calendar.

The final amended specifications are listed below:

Platts benzene assessments in the US and Brazil are published on S&P Global Energy 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 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 upon request.