Argus Media

Driving Discussions: The Renewable Fuels Standard under Trump

Volatility has returned to America’s RIN market, with court decisions adding some unexpected shorts to a constrained marketplace. Argus VP of North America Refined Products, John Demopoulos, and Argus Senior Reporter Elliott Blackburn take a deep dive on the US renewable fuels standard (RFS): what it is, where we are and what’s to come?

Coronavirus implications on the Asia and Middle East petrochemical markets

The recent coronavirus outbreak in China is significantly impacting commodity and petrochemical markets. China is one of the largest petrochemical consumer and producers globally. Sentiment is bearish with petrochemical plants running at lower operating rates in China and with high inventories. David Hanna, Muhamad Fadhil and Bohan Loh from Argus discuss the potential impact for markets in Asia and the Middle East in an exclusive Argus podcast.

Coronavirus trickles down global oil markets - Episode 2

Economic activity has significantly slowed across Asia, denting energy consumption and oil demand, particularly in the transportation sector. Travel restrictions and precautionary behaviour are curtailing people movement, sending oil prices to their lowest in more than a year. The implications are stark for the energy industry and for the people who work in it. And demand is likely to remain depressed as the epidemic expands to South Korea and potentially to other major regional economies, which have been forced to pare output.

Host: Alejandro Barbajosa, Argus VP, crude & LPG - Middle East & Asia-Pacific

Coronavirus: a black swan event for the global crude market - Episode 1

The epidemic’s effect on energy consumption in China, the world’s top crude importer, is unprecedented. About a third of the country’s total refining capacity is down at a time when oil markets were already oversupplied. Economic activity remains subdued, making it uncertain how long the downturn will last. That’s already being reflected in the value of virtually every crude grade imported into Asia-Pacific. And there is also the question of whether Beijing will use this as an opportunity to consolidate China’s refining sector, contributing to the erosion of demand in the longer term.

Host: Alejandro Barbajosa, Argus VP, crude & LPG - Middle East & Asia-Pacific

The early impacts of IMO 2020 in Asia-Pacific

One month has passed since IMO 2020 came into effect, directing oceangoing vessels to switch from heavy bunker fuel to the cleaner 0.5% very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). Listen to our latest podcast to learn how the Americas shipping industry has reacted to the mandates, including:

• How the transition period has disrupted the market
• Alternative fuel of choice for compliant shippers
• Impact on the supply/demand of VLSFO
• Scrubber adoption

Host: Tracy Vowel, VP, Business Development
Speaker: Andrew Khaw, Senior Reporter, Argus Marine Fuels

The early impacts of IMO 2020 in Europe

One month has passed since IMO 2020 came into effect, directing oceangoing vessels to switch from heavy bunker fuel to the cleaner 0.5% very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). Listen to our latest podcast to learn how the Americas shipping industry has reacted to the mandates, including:

• How the transition period has disrupted the market
• Alternative fuel of choice for compliant shippers
• Impact on the supply/demand of VLSFO
• Scrubber adoption

Host: Tracy Vowel, VP, Business Development
Speaker: Enes Tunagaur, Senior Reporter, European Oil Products

The early impacts of IMO 2020 in the Americas

One month has passed since IMO 2020 came into effect, directing oceangoing vessels to switch from heavy bunker fuel to the cleaner 0.5% very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). Listen to our latest podcast to learn how the Americas shipping industry has reacted to the mandates, including:

• How the transition period has disrupted the market
• Alternative fuel of choice for compliant shippers
• Impact on the supply/demand of VLSFO
• Scrubber adoption

Host: Tracy Vowel, VP, Business Development
Speaker: Stefka Wechsler, Editor, Argus Marine Fuels

The China Connection - New petrochemical refineries: Impactful or disruptive?

China's petrochemical refiners are making their presence felt way beyond the country's borders. How will this impact global supply, demand, and trade balances? Will global operating rates be reduced?

Textile giants Rongsheng and Hengli have shaken up China's cozy, state-dominated oil market this year with the addition of close to 1mn b/d of new crude distillation capacity and vast, integrated downstream complexes. Petrochemical products, rather than conventional road fuels, are the driving force for this new breed of private sector refiner. And more are on their way.

The China Connection: IMO 2020 and Zhoushan

What role will China play in the global bunker market in 2020 and beyond?

The deadline for IMO 2020 is fast approaching and China is well positioned to emerge as a key player. China is home to six of the world's 10 largest container ports, has the world's second largest refining sector and a wealth of storage and blending capacity at domestic ports. Sammy Six, deputy editor for Argus Marine Fuels, and Jonty Richardson, Argus Consulting, discuss the impact of IMO 2020 and how China is well-positioned to take a significant step forward in the bunker market post-2020.

The China Connection – Plastics Recycling Challenges

Nearly two years after China's ban on imports of plastic waste, what are the implications for plastic waste trade flows for the rest of the world?

China's ban on the imports of plastic waste has had a significant impact across the rest of the world given it's a vital cog in the global market. The impact of the ban was felt instantly particularly for the US and Europe, which were exporting a large percentage of their recycled plastics to China. As recycling efforts are a top concern, what does the future hold for the US and Europe? Will Collins, Associate Editor for Argus' European polymers, and Michelle Klump, Editor of the Argus Polymers report, discuss the factors that could influence any meaningful changes to recycling statistics.