Platts to add Nantong Port as basis location for Asia PX CFR Taiwan/China assessments, effective Jan. 4, 2027

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, will add Nantong (Yangkou) Port in China as a basis location for its CFR Taiwan/China Paraxylene (PX) benchmark assessments, effective Jan. 4, 2027.

The decision follows a subscriber note published Oct. 5, proposing the addition. Feedback from market participants showed broad support for including the port in the PX CFR Taiwan/China assessment.

Nantong Port is a deep-water port in Jiangsu province on China's east coast. It is operated by state-owned Jiangsu Yangkou Port Co Ltd.

Market feedback indicates the port can accommodate fully-laden Medium-Range vessels of up to 50,000 metric tons DWT. This is consistent with the other basis locations reflected in the assessment. The port has five berths and three possible discharge operations. Berth G3 can accommodate ships of up to 12,500 mt DWT, while berths G4 and G5 are able to accommodate ships of maximum 50,000 mt DWT.

Market participants also reported a positive experience discharging at the port, with no operational issues. Market feedback also indicated that costs to discharge at Nantong port were at par with other basis locations currently included in the methodology.

From Jan. 4, 2027, Platts will publish bids and offers that give buyers the option to receive cargoes at any of the six par ports: Taiwan, Ningbo, Dalian, Jiangyin, Jiaxing and Nantong.

Buyers may nominate Nantong Port as the discharge port for trades reported in the Platts PX CFR Taiwan/China Market on Close assessment process. Sellers should not unreasonably withhold acceptance of a buyer's port nomination.

Platts assesses both bids and offers on a CFR Taiwan/China basis, with the port of destination at the buyer's option.

All other specifications of the PX CFR Taiwan/China benchmark will remain unchanged.

Specifications for Platts PX assessments, including the applicable terms, conditions and nomination requirements for data submitted to the Platts PX MOC, are available in the Asia Chemicals Specifications Guide.

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

For written comments, please clearly indicate whether they are not intended for publication by Platts.

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