Argus Media

Global LPG Conversations: US butane flows surge to meet Asia’s demand

Why US butane is in high demand across Asia and what growing export volumes mean for prices, trade flows and infrastructure plans.

The war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz blockade have shaken LPG trade flows, sending delivered butane prices in Asia to multi-year highs and leaving buyers racing to secure alternative supply. US producers and exporters are stepping in fast—but can export capacity and logistics keep up with this unprecedented demand?

Host Anu Agarwal (Vice President, Business Development, Argus Oil in Asia) is joined by Amy Strahan (Editor, LPG North America) to examine how Gulf Coast terminals and Mont Belvieu storage are operating at full capacity to keep cargoes moving, and why looming bottlenecks could reshape prices and trade flows in the months ahead.

Base Oils Disrupted: War-Driven Supply Tightness

In this special edition episode, we discuss the impact of the US–Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the global base oil markets. Even as trade flows evolve, Group III supply remains limited, driving price spikes in the US and Europe. Market participants look towards Asia as supply is showing signs of a recovery and China’s growing output is reducing its reliance on imports. We examine shifting arbitrage, demand erosion from high prices, and the near-term supply outlook amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty.

Fertilizer Matters EP51: North American Fertilizers - To Re-Export or Not Re-Export

Hear Argus’ essential analysis of what’s driving US traders to export phosphates and urea rather than sell domestically, the impact of they Indian buy tenders on Nola urea prices, US politicians/officials reaction to market conditions and the potential impact of removing CVDs.

Join Calder Jett, Editor – North American Fertilizer and Taylor Zavala, Deputy Editor – North American Fertilizer as they discuss these topics in the latest episode of Argus' Fertilizer Matters podcast series. 

Key questions answered in this podcast:

• How has the Middle East war impacted the North American fertilizer market?
• Why have US traders decided they’d rather export phosphates than sell domestically?
• Are we seeing similar dynamics play out in the urea market?
• How have Indian urea buy tenders impacted Nola urea prices?
• How are US politicians and government officials reacting to market conditions faced by farmers?
• Could removing countervailing duties (CVDs) have a big impact on the phosphate market – and potentially lower the cost of fertilizer in the US?

Related links

• Argus North American Fertilizer price reporting service | More info | Request trial
• Argus Nitrogen price reporting service | More info | Request trial
• Argus Phosphates price reporting service | More info | Request trial
• More information: Phosphate short and mid to long-term outlook services
• Free newsletter sign up: Argus Fertilizer Market Highlights
• Fertilizer Matters podcast series

 

 

Power Dispatch: Storage Wars - Batteries, Dams and Why We Need Both

Here is the podcast description to post on podbean:

 

In this episode of The Power Dispatch, Daniel Craig, Senior Reporter of Argus European Electricity, speaks with Deputy Editor Apostolos Tsarikas to learn more about how intermittent renewables are transforming the European power system, sparking a rush for grid flexibility through energy storage, whether battery or otherwise. They are joined by market reporters James Doran and Ilenia Reale to discover the lessons and pitfalls from the storage race so far, and to consider hydropower’s role in a flexible, green grid.

 

Listen to discover key insights on:

·      Storage success stories

·      Where is deployment struggling, and why?

·      The role for hydropower: Should it be more of a policy focus?

 

This podcast was created using data and insights from the Argus European Electricity service.

 

Request trial access or more information >>

Fertilizer Matters EP50: Southeast Asia’s Phosphate Market

Hear Argus’ essential analysis of what’s driving changing trade flows in Southeast Asia’s phosphate market, focusing on the impact of the Middle East war, China’s export constraints, buyers diversifying supply chains, rising DAP price and affordability pressures, weak crop prices and potential El Niño implications.

Join Huijun Yao, Editor – Asia Fertilizers and Hui Xuan Lek, Market Reporter – Fertilizers as they discuss these topics in the latest episode of Argus' Fertilizer Matters podcast series.

Global LPG Conversations: New storage data highlights Africa growth

Editor Peter Wilton is joined by LPG World editor Matt Scotland and reporter Yasmin Zaman to unpack the latest findings from the Global LPG Storage Survey. They explore how clean cooking policies are driving modest capacity growth, a surge in project pipelines particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and what rising geopolitical tensions and shifting trade flows mean for future infrastructure investment. 

 

The Global LPG Storage Survey is now quarterly, providing an expanded view into each region. It is published as part of Argus LPG World, a renowned source of valuable insights to keep you up-to-date on the LPG markets.

Metal Movers: China flat steel outlook shaped by exports, costs and risk

Chinese flat steel prices rose sharply in early May, supported by stronger domestic sentiment, tighter export conditions and heightened geopolitical risks. Annie Wang, senior analyst at Argus Media, discusses how these factors, along with firming semi-finished steel prices, are shaping market dynamics in China and influencing global ferrous trade.

Key topics covered in the podcast:

• Drivers behind the early May increase in Chinese flat steel prices and how market conditions evolved through the quarter

• Impact of export license constraints on Chinese flat steel offers and buyer behavior

• Role of geopolitical risks in supporting prices through freight, insurance and broader supply concerns

• Effect of higher slab and semi-finished steel prices on hot-rolled coil pricing, substrate costs and mill margins

• Market expectations for Chinese flat steel prices, export volumes and domestic demand in the coming months

 

 

Metal Movers: The Global Aluminium Supply Squeeze

In this episode, Argus examines the intensifying supply squeeze in global aluminum markets following the outbreak of the US-Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. With inventories at historically low levels and competition for units increasing across regions, supply security has become the dominant concern for consumers. Our experts explore how trade flows, premiums and secondary markets are responding, and why tightness may persist through the remainder of 2026.

Covered in this episode

• Why security of supply has overtaken sustainability and policy as the top priority for aluminum buyers

• The impact of Middle East disruption on global availability, inventories and LME market structure

• How European and US premiums are moving — and why further upside remains likely

• The role of tariffs, trade flows and regional competition in shaping the US aluminium market

• Why demand destruction has so far been limited despite historically high prices

• The outlook for supply if the Strait of Hormuz reopens in the immediate future — including the release of stockpiled metal

• How scrap and secondary aluminum markets are responding, particularly in Europe and the US

Falando de Mercado: Clima e combustíveis fósseis

Discussões climáticas estão em um momento de transição, com alguns países querendo cada vez mais foco em combustíveis fósseis e menos em emissões, enquanto outros seguem resistentes a essa mudança. Acompanhe a conversa entre Camila Fontana, chefe adjunta da redação da Argus no Brasil, e o editor Lucas Parolin. 

 

Alguns dos tópicos deste episódio: 

 

• Foco anterior no papel das emissões de carbono no aquecimento global 

• Acordos das COP e gargalos de implementação  

• União de países pela transição para longe dos combustíveis fósseis 

• Combate a aspectos econômicos que dificultam a transição  

• Fluxos comerciais e exportação de emissões 

• Incentivos aos biocombustíveis  

Hablando de Mercado: Clima y combustibles fósiles

Las discusiones climáticas atraviesan un momento de transición, con algunos países que buscan cada vez más centrarse en los combustibles fósiles y menos en las emisiones, mientras que otros se mantienen resistentes a este cambio. Siga la conversación entre Camila Fontana, subdirectora de la redacción de Argus en Brasil, y el editor Lucas Parolin. 

 

Algunos de los temas de este episodio: 

 

• Enfoque previo en el papel de las emisiones de carbono en el calentamiento global 

• Acuerdos de las COP y cuellos de botella en su implementación 

• Unión de países para la transición alejándose de los combustibles fósiles 

• Afrontar los desafíos económicos que dificultan la transición 

• Flujos comerciales y la exportación de emisiones 

• Incentivos para los biocombustibles