Platts to launch Santa Cruz ,Bolivia IPPs based on new KM 171 ULSD and gasoline assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, will launch new ultra low sulfur diesel and RON 91 gasoline assessments at the KM 171 area, in Argentina, and import parity prices for both products delivered to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, effective June 15.

These new assessments will reflect parcels loading on an FOB basis at the "KM 171" area (also referred to as "the KM") comprised of the actual kilometrage on the Parana Guazu river, and terminals in Campana and Zarate, on the Parana river, all near Buenos Aires in Argentina. They will reflect products loaded onto barges of 3,000 cubic meters each.

The area is an important inland hub to distribute refined products within South American regions with no access to either the Pacific or the Atlantic oceans. At the KM, transshipment is typically used for delivery to Paraguay, while inland resale occurs in Campana and Zarate on an ex-tank FCA basis.

Medium Range vessels with partial cargoes are typically negotiated at similar prices on a DAP basis, compared to FOB transshipments, in the area. Platts will assess gasoline and ULSD being delivered for that ship-to-barge operation in 30-45 days. Outright prices will be published in both $/barrel and US cents/gallon, and differentials to second-month NYMEX ULSD and RBOB futures, in cents/gallon, all on a daily basis. Monthly and weekly averages will also be published.

The new assessments will be as follows:

Platts will also publish import parity prices for ULSD and RON 91 gasoline in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, based on those KM 171 area assessments. They will represent the cost of those imports on the day of publication, and include the price of the product; a spread from DAP/FOB to FCA basis at the tank in Campana; truck freight to Santa Cruz; importing costs such as customs and agency fees; plus losses, storage and insurance costs, where applicable.

The IPPs will be published in $/barrel on a daily basis, also having monthly and weekly averages, as follows:

These assessments will be published on fixed pages 169, 170 and 171 of Platts Global Alert (PGA) and Platts Refined Products Alert (PRF), as well as on the Latin American Wire market report.

Please send any feedback, comments, or questions to americas_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

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