Dated Brent goes Cif —ten key questions
Petroleum Economist asks Adi Imsirovic, former head of crude trading at Gazprom Marketing & Trading, about the major issues thrown up by Platts’ proposed change
Price reporting agency (PRA) S&P Global Platts has proposed changing its Dated Brent assessment—the leading global light-sweet crude benchmark—from a Fob to Cif Rotterdam basis from March of next year. It also intends to include the US WTI Midland grade in the basket alongside existing North Sea crudes. The move has proven relatively controversial, with the Ice exchange, venue of the majority of the financial Brent trading, sending Platts a letter outlining concerns that subsequently leaked. Rival PRAs have queued up to advertise their wares as alternatives should the market choose to reject Platts’ proposal and the PRA refuse to budge. “The move of both Dated and BFOET assessments
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026






