Platts seeks immediate feedback on Middle East freight assessments

In light of the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, seeks immediate feedback on its Middle East clean and dirty tanker assessment methodology.

This follows a March 3, 2026, subscriber note in which Platts clarified its existing methodology for these assessments: https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/pricing-benchmarks/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/030326-platts-clarifies-middle-east-freight-assessment-criteria-amid-shipping-disruptions

Platts, in the absence of relevant fixtures, considers freight indications, indicative bids and offers from within the Arab Gulf (AG), as well as fixtures and activity from Gulf of Oman ports and correlated routes, such as West Coast India to North Asia and Red Sea to North Asia, when assessing the routes out of AG.

This applies to benchmark assessments Clean LR1 Arab Gulf-Japan 55kt (PFAEY10), Clean LR2 Arab Gulf-Japan 75kt (PFAMT00), and Dirty VLCC Persian Gulf-China 270kt (AASLB00), as well as Clean LR1 Arab Gulf-UK Continent 65kt (PFAFA10), Clean LR2 Arab Gulf-UK Continent 90kt (PFANT00), along with other AG assessments.

Platts seeks feedback on, but is not limited to, the following:

• Methodology for assessing the AG freight market, where there is currently limited ability for the broader market to fix ships for voyages from inside the Strait of Hormuz and transit through it;

• The need to launch additional assessments for new freight routes under the current market conditions;

• Temporarily redefining basis ports for existing freight routes, including timing/implementation required for such potential changes.

Please send any feedback or questions to tankers@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.