Platts proposes to decouple FOB ARA and CIF ARA assessments for toluene and MX

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, is proposing to decouple its FOB ARA price assessments from the equivalent CIF ARA price assessments for mixed xylenes and toluene.

Platts proposes to assess daily outright FOB ARA prices for toluene and MX based on bids, offers, trades and other market information heard up to the close of the daily assessment window at 16:30 London time.

Under the current methodology, FOB ARA prices for both toluene and MX are assessed at parity with CIF ARA values.

Platts published a consultation asking for feedback on the prevailing incoterms in the MX and toluene markets in September 2024: https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/pricing-benchmarks/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/091324-platts-opens-consultation-on-prevailing-incoterms-in-european-mx-and-toluene-markets(opens in a new tab)

If implemented, the proposed changes would affect the following assessments:

These assessments appear on Platts Connect, Platts Market Center, Platts Chemical Alert (PCA) fixed pages 0328, 0432, 0444, 0377, 0432, 0324 and in the Polymerscan Europe and Americas Petrochemicalscan publications.

Please send all feedback, comments and questions by Jan. 20 to petchems@spglobal.com with a copy to 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.