Platts launches assessment of ultra low sulfur fuel oil barge FOB Rotterdam 0.1%S 1 Dec 2025
Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, has launched a daily assessment for the FOB Rotterdam 0.1%S ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) barge on December 1, 2025.
This follows an increase in fuel demand in Europe following the implementation of the Mediterranean Emission Control Area starting May 1 2025.
Specifications: Ratings reflect RMG 380 specifications as per ISO 8217:2017 Petroleum products — Fuels (class F) on all parameters, with a minimum additional viscosity of 30 CST, in line with market input.
Size: The assessment reflects a barge size of 1,000 mt, with an operational tolerance of plus/minus 5%. Platts also published inclusive indications of between 1,000 mt and 5,000 mt. Indications higher than 1,000 mt may be normalized.
Port basis & valuation period: Valuation reflects barge loading values on an FOB Rotterdam-Antwerp basis, for loading 3-15 (Monday to Tuesday) or 5-15 (Wednesday to Friday) days ahead, with values normalized to reflect the average value of these loading ranges. Platts understands that barges are typically traded in the front five days, middle five days, or back five days.
Product Origin: In line with all European fuel oil assessments, the FOB Rotterdam ULSFO barge assessment reflects non-Russian origin.
Valuation: This valuation is assessed as fixed price, in line with Platts’ 3.5% and 0.5% Rdam barge valuations.
Nominations: Sellers may nominate any reasonable terminal in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp area for FOB Rotterdam-Antwerp barge trades reported in the Market on Close assessment process, and buyers may not reject this option without reason. The seller shall compensate the buyer for proven additional freight costs associated with loading at an alternative port other than Rotterdam-Antwerp. For FOB North West Europe barges on all products, the buyer must provide clear 48 working hours notice to the seller of the required loading date. The expected nomination procedures are in line with Platts’ 0.5% Rdam barge appraisal expectations, as set out in the European and African Refined Petroleum Products Methodology guidance, which can be found here: https://www.spglobal.com/content/dam/spglobal/ci/en/documents/platts/en/our-methodology/methodology-specialations/refined-products/refined-products-europe-africa-specifications.pdf
Platts will launch the eWindow instrument for this assessment on December 15.
The 0.1% Marine Fuel Barge FOB Rotterdam assessment will be published under the code FBEBR00, and on the fixed pages PGA0030/PRF0030, PGA1112/PRF1112, PGA1510/PRF1510 and on European Marketscan.
Platts first proposed to launch this assessment on October 10 in a customer note and published its decision to launch the assessment in a customer note on October 31.
Source: Platts
