Fastmarkets Proposes to Change Chinese UCO Timestamps

Why It Matters

Aligning the timestamp with Singapore time gives Asian traders more timely price signals, improving liquidity and price discovery in the fast‑growing Chinese UCO market.

Key Takeaways

• Timestamp moves to 4:30 pm Singapore, effective May 20 2026.
• Applies to AG‑UCO‑0015 flexi‑tank and AG‑UCO‑0014 bulk contracts.
• Minimum shipment: 500 t for flexi‑tank, 2,500 t for bulk.
• Comments due May 13 2026; Fastmarkets will publish non‑confidential feedback.

Pulse Analysis

The global used cooking oil (UCO) market has become a cornerstone of renewable diesel and biodiesel production, with China accounting for a sizable share of feedstock supply. Fastmarkets, a leading provider of commodity price assessments, publishes daily FOB China benchmarks for both flexi‑tank and bulk UCO contracts. These benchmarks, identified as AG‑UCO‑0015 and AG‑UCO‑0014, set reference prices that influence contract negotiations, hedging strategies, and inventory decisions across the biofuels supply chain. As governments tighten sustainability mandates, reliable UCO pricing becomes a strategic asset for refiners and investors.

Effective May 20 2026, Fastmarkets will shift the publication time of these assessments from 4:30 pm London to 4:30 pm Singapore. The adjustment aligns the timestamp with the peak trading window of Asian market participants, who dominate the Chinese UCO supply chain. By delivering price information earlier in the local business day, traders can react to market movements before the close of regional exchanges, reducing latency and enhancing price discovery. The change also standardises timing across Fastmarkets’ Asian commodity indices, fostering consistency for multinational users.

Stakeholders have until May 13 2026 to submit feedback, and Fastmarkets has pledged to make non‑confidential comments publicly available. The proposed methodology retains strict quality parameters—maximum 15 % free fatty acids, 2 % moisture‑impurities‑unsaponifiables, and 50 ppm sulfur—ensuring that the benchmark reflects a consistent grade of oil. For flexi‑tank contracts, the minimum shipment is 500 tonnes, while bulk contracts require at least 2,500 tonnes, thresholds that preserve market depth. The timestamp shift is expected to improve liquidity, support more accurate hedging, and reinforce Fastmarkets’ role as a trusted price source in the evolving biofuel landscape. Analysts also anticipate that the earlier data release could spur tighter spreads between Asian and European UCO benchmarks.