Argus Media

Metal Movers: Strait of Hormuz - How Sulphur is Impacting the Copperbelt

With Southern Africa sourcing over 90pc of its sulphur from the region, the Copperbelt’s copper and cobalt producers are facing halted shipments, refinery shutdowns, and rapidly rising costs.

In this episode, noble alloys reporter Roxana Lazar is joined by sulphur and sulphuric acid reporter Fenella Rhodes; senior copper reporter Raghav Jain; and battery materials reporter Chris Welch.

The panel explore how these supply-chain shocks are shaping production in the DRC and Zambia, and how far the consequences could spread across global metals markets.

Topics covered:

• The collapse in Middle East sulphur deliveries and its impact on leaching
• Tightened global sulphur supply including the stalled gulf cargoes
• The impact on cobalt exports, slowed by quota delays and shipping disruption
• Whether the conflict is a temporary bottleneck or a structural vulnerability for the Copperbelt

Global LPG Conversations

lobal LPG Conversations, Peter Wilton, Jack Greenwood and David Appleton answer listener questions form our recent Webinar, Iran-US War one month on, and offer some initial thoughts on how the market has reacted to the ceasefire and what next should it hold.

Hablando de Mercado: Petróleo de esquisto en Argentina

 

Argentina ha dejado atrás un modelo basado en el crudo convencional para convertirse en un productor claramente dominado por el petróleo de esquisto de Vaca Muerta. Acompaña a Camila Fontana, jefa adjunta de la oficina de Argus en São Paulo, y a Nazareno Ferrero, gerente de desarrollo de negocios de Argus en Buenos Aires, mientras conversan sobre la evolución reciente y las perspectivas de la industria energética en el país sudamericano.

Temas tratados:

• Evolución estructural de la industria de refinación y del petróleo en Argentina

• Enfoque doméstico de los refinadores y su impacto en la dinámica de exportación

• Cambio en la matriz exportadora de Escalante a Medanito

• Nuevo precio del Medanito para Puerto Rosales

Market Talks: Shale oil surge in Argentina

 

Argentina has moved away from a model based on conventional crude to become a producer clearly dominated by Vaca Muerta shale oil. Join Camila Fontana, deputy bureau chief of the Argus office in São Paulo, and Nazareno Ferrero, business development manager at Argus in Buenos Aires, as they talk about the recent evolution and outlook for the energy industry in the South American country. 

Topics discussed:

•  Structural evolution of the refining and oil industry in Argentina

• Refiners’ domestic focus and impact on export dynamics

• Shift in the export matrix from Escalante to Medanito 

• New Medanito price for Puerto Rosales

Falando de Mercado: Petróleo de xisto na Argentina

A Argentina deixou para trás um modelo fundamentado no petróleo convencional e se tornou um produtor claramente dominado pelo petróleo de xisto de Vaca Muerta. Acompanhe a conversa entre Camila Fontana, chefe-adjunta da redação da Argus em São Paulo, e Nazareno Ferrero, gerente de desenvolvimento de negócios da Argus em Buenos Aires, sobre a evolução recente e as perspectivas da indústria de energia no país sul-americano.

Tópicos discutidos:

• Evolução estrutural da indústria de refino e petróleo na Argentina

• Foco doméstico dos refinadores e impacto na dinâmica de exportação

• Mudança na matriz de exportação de Escalante para Medanito

• Novo preço do Medanito para Puerto Rosales

The Biofuels Report: RFS Reset - US Biofuel Mandates Evolve

Listen to a detailed breakdown of the new US biofuel blend mandates and what they mean for farm and fuel markets. Our Renewable Fuel Standard experts – Cole Martin, associate editor and Matthew Cope, senior reporter – dig into how the record-high quotas are already influencing demand for crops, production margins at biofuel plants and ultimately the price drivers pay at the pump.

 

Chemical Conversations: BTX Market Pressures Amid Middle East Conflict

 

Santosh Navada speaks with Ashish Kulkarni, Argus’ lead aromatics consultant, to examine how rising conflict in the Middle East is reshaping global BTX flows.

 

They discuss:

 

• How the conflict has reshaped cost dynamics across the BTX value chain

• The impact of tightening naphtha supplies, driven by crude volatility and disrupted shipping lanes, on Asian economies

• Perspectives on mounting feedstock disruptions

• Coping strategies adopted by producers across different regions

• The effect of Middle East conflict on downstream industry dynamics

 

Further details and additional insight are available from Argus aromatics experts and Argus publications, including:

 

Argus Toluene, Xylenes and Derivatives | Argus Toluene and Xylenes Outlook | Argus Toluene and Xylenes Analytics | Argus Consulting

Metal Movers: How the Iran Conflict is Impacting Steel Markets

 

In this episode, Argus analysts examine the implications of Iran‑related geopolitical tensions for ferrous metals markets. The discussion focuses on how regional developments could influence steel production, raw material flows and trade dynamics, with attention to semi-finished prices, which have risen sharply.

The podcast places Iran within the wider Middle East and global steel ecosystem, helping market participants understand where exposure may emerge and which parts of the ferrous value chain are most sensitive to disruption.

 

Key points covered

• Iran’s role in regional and global ferrous metals and steel supply chains

• Potential impacts of strikes on Iran plants on production and exports

• Risks to raw material availability, logistics, trade flows and energy prices

• Implications for regional and international steel pricing

• What steel producers, traders and consumers should monitor going forward

Falando de Mercado: Potencial do biometano no Sul

O biometano entra em 2026 sob novas forças de demanda regulatória e com ofertas em expansão, enquanto o mercado ainda define referências de preço e modelos de contratação. É neste contexto que a cidade de Foz do Iguaçu recebe, de 14 a 16 de abril, o 8º Fórum Sul Brasileiro de Biogás e Biometano, com o tema “Biometano: bem feito, suficiente, bem distribuído”. Acompanhe a conversa entre Rebecca Gompertz, especialista em biometano da Argus, e Felipe Souza Marques, coordenador‑geral do Fórum e diretor‑presidente do CIBiogás. 

 

Alguns dos tópicos discutidos:

 

• Geração de negócios a partir de certificados e digestato

• Mandato, CGOB e LRCAP

• Ritmo de conexão da rede

• Integração com cooperativas do agronegócio

• Perspectiva para investimentos

Fertilizer Matters EP45: Middle East Conflict - Impact on Sulphur & Ammonia Markets

Hear Argus’ essential analysis of the impact the Middle East conflict on sulphur and ammonia
markets, focusing on production, logistical constraints, price surges across both daily and weekly
price assessments, trade flow developments, the potential for permanent changes to supply and
trade dynamics, key takeaways and what to watch out for next.

Join Mike Nash, Senior Editor – Fertilizers, Ruth Sharpe, Global Editor - Ammonia and Maria
Mosquera, Global Editor – Sulphur Products as they discuss these topics in the latest episode of
Argus' Fertilizer Matters podcast series.