Platts proposes methodology changes for Gasoil 0.1% CIF NWE assessments

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, proposes to amend the methodology for its Gasoil 0.1% Cargoes CIF NWE Cargo assessment (AAYWS00) and the related freight netback Gasoil 0.1%S FOB NWE Cargo assessment (AAYWR00), effective Jan. 4, 2027.

Under the proposal, Platts would assess Gasoil 0.1% CIF NWE Cargo (AAYWS00) as a freight net-forward from the existing Gasoil 0.1%S (1,000 ppm) FOB ARA Barge assessment (AAYWT00). The assessment would be derived using the relevant daily freight rates published in Platts Clean Tankerwire for UKC-UKC 22,000 mt cargoes. The freight component would be calculated as the incremental freight differential between two baskets of freight routes: an ARA basket covering Brofjorden to Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp and Antwerp to Amsterdam and Rotterdam; and a Le Havre basket covering Brofjorden/Antwerp to Le Havre.

For comparison, the corresponding Worldscale incremental flat rate used in the proposed net-forward formula would have been $1.327/mt in 2025. Gasoil 0.1% Cargoes CIF NWE averaged $677.86/mt in 2025 and $742.36/mt in 2024 under the current methodology. Using the proposed methodology, the equivalent average assessment would have been $662.51/mt in 2025 and $730.47/mt in 2024.

The Gasoil 0.1% Cargoes FOB NWE assessment (AAYWR00) would continue to be calculated as a freight netback from the Gasoil 0.1% Cargoes CIF NWE assessment. The netback would be based on a basket of routes from Brofjorden and Antwerp to Le Havre, using the relevant daily freight rates published in Platts Clean Tankerwire for UKC-UKC 22,000 mt cargoes.

This proposal follows a consultation period opened on March 16, 2026, and announced in a subscriber note available here .

The current assessment reflects French heating oil meeting Fioul Domestique (FOD) specifications, with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1%. It reflects cargo sizes of 10,000 mt to 30,000 mt, normalized to a 20,000 mt reference size, on a CIF Le Havre delivery basis.

Platts understands that French legislation will reduce the maximum sulfur content for this specification to 50 ppm from March 1, 2027, down from the current 1,000 ppm limit. In light of this regulatory change, Platts proposes to amend the assessment specification from Jan. 4, 2027, to ensure it remains representative of the high sulfur gasoil complex in Northwest Europe, along with the broader methodology parameters underpinning the assessment.

Please send all feedback, comments, and questions by Aug. 3, 2026, to Europe_products@spglobal.com, with a cc to pricegroup@spglobal.com. For written comments, please clearly indicate if any comments are not intended for public publication by Platts. Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments that are not marked confidential available upon request.