Argus Media

Metal Movers: Sigma Lithium CEO - Why Brazil beats Africa on lithium costs?

Join Sigma Lithium CEO for a discussion around the market, price volatility and more.

Canadian miner Sigma Lithium has grown its Brazilian project into one of the world's largest hard-rock lithium operations in record time. CEO Ana Cabral joins Argus reporters Chris Welch and Pedro Consoli to discuss shipment strategies during volatile prices, how the firm keeps all-in costs below $600/t.

• Why Sigma paused shipments during price lows

• How it maintains second-lowest costs globally

• Downstream ambitions and waste upcycling

• Policy, green premiums, and permitting risks

Chemical Conversations: IMO Vote Update, Asia's Methanol Dynamics & Atlantic Basin Shifts

Welcome to this Methanol Market Puts-and-Takes podcast episode, part of the Chemical Conversations series. 

In this episode, Senior Analyst Cassidy Staggers and Dave McCaskill, VP of Methanol & Derivatives, discuss:

• Update on IMO vote – implications for low-carbon methanol and marine fuel decarbonization efforts

• Developments in the Asian methanol market

• Atlantic Basin market response

Argus offers methanol prices, news, analysis, forecasts, and consulting. Get more information and request a free trial. 

 

Driving Discussions: OTL Countdown: West Africa’s Refining & Pricing Landscape

Ahead of the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Nigeria, we’re digging into the evolving West African gasoline market. 

Join James Gooder and George Maher-Bonnett as they discuss key market changes, refinery developments, regional hub pricing, the uptake of Argus Ebob and Argus' transparency initiative.

·      How has the West African oil market changed after deregulation?

·      What is the impact of Dangote and other upcoming refining projects?

·      Is West Africa becoming a pricing hub for refined products?

·      How is Argus answering the need for all-day price transparency?

 

Meet the Argus team at Booth S9 at the OTL 2025 Expo.

 

Market Talks: Brazil’s 2024-25 corn crop and a new demand profile

Brazil's record-breaking corn crop met with a shift in demand. Driven by ethanol plants and the animal feed sector, domestic consumption has taken space from exports. Listen to the episode featuring Camila Fontana, Deputy Bureau Chief at Argus in Brazil, and Nathalia Giannetti, a specialist contributing to the Argus AgriMarkets and Argus Brazil Grains and Fertilizers reports. 

Falando de Mercado: A safra de milho 2024-25 e o novo perfil da demanda

A safra de milho no Brasil teve produção recorde e virada no perfil da demanda. Impulsionado por usinas de etanol e pelo setor de ração animal, o consumo interno tomou espaço das exportações. Confira ouça o episódio com Camila Fontana, chefe adjunta da redação da Argus no Brasil, e Nathalia Giannetti, especialista que contribui para os relatórios Argus AgriMarkets e Argus Brasil Grãos e Fertilizantes. 

The Crude Report: The Return of Iraqi Kirkuk

This episode covers the return of flows of Iraqi medium sour Kirkuk crude after two-and-half-years

• How the Kirkuk grade traded before its halt in March 2023 and why it’s been absent
• Now the grade is back online, how much is available and how will it trade with the marketing rights belonging to Iraq’s Somo, including the return of the spot market and how that works  
• Will Kirkuk create a place for itself in the Mediterranean crude slate again?

 

Kuganiga Kuganeswaran, Deputy Editor, Crude Oil

Lina Bulyk, Associate Editor, Crude Oil

 

 

Americas Asphalt: Spotlight on Brazil

Listen to Cobin Eggers, Deputy Editor of the Argus Americas Asphalt report, and Julio Viana, our Brazil-based Senior Reporter, cover the following:

• Evolution of asphalt demand in Brazil, including drivers of the record demand seen in 2024

• What factors made the US a major supply source for Brazil

• How political, budgetary and seasonal factors influence the market

• Projections for the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026

• Introduction of a price assessment for waterborne cargo delivered to Brazil

Falando de Mercado: Hidrogênio verde: Potencial brasileiro e desafios na fronteira energética

Com mais de 70 projetos em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento, o Brasil desponta como um dos principais mercados para o hidrogênio verde. A produção nacional, que inclui rotas inovadoras como a conversão de etanol e biometano, busca atender tanto à demanda interna — especialmente na indústria de fertilizantes — quanto ao mercado externo. Apesar do avanço, gargalos na rede elétrica e desafios regulatórios ainda limitam o crescimento do setor e exigem investimentos para garantir competitividade. Para entender mais sobre hidrogênio verde, ouça a conversa entre Maria Albuquerque, especialista da publicação Argus Brasil Combustíveis, e Victor Uchoa, líder da área de consultoria da Argus para a América Latina. 

The Crude Report APAC Series: Condensate & Naphtha

This episode unpacks how South Korea’s aggressive condensate buying and Russian export disruptions have reshaped Asia’s light ends market. We explore the ripple effects on pricing, trade flows, and regional supply, as well as the impact of Middle East refinery turnarounds. With premiums surging and availability tightening, we look ahead to Q4 and what it means for buyers navigating a volatile condensate and naphtha landscape.

Topics Covered:

• South Korea’s aggressive condensate buying spree

Driven by fears of naphtha shortages, South Korean refiners are snapping up regional condensate and ultra-light crude grades, pushing out traditional buyers like Indonesia’s TPPI.

• Russian export disruptions following the Ust-Luga terminal attack

The late-August drone strike on Novatek’s facility has halted condensate splitter operations, slashing naphtha exports to Asia and tightening regional supply.

• Middle East refinery turnarounds tightening naphtha supply

Planned maintenance at Kuwait’s Mina Abdullah and Saudi Arabia’s Satorp refineries in Q4 is expected to reduce naphtha output, compounding the supply crunch.

• Surging spot premiums across condensate and naphtha markets

Premiums for grades like Ichthys, Cossack, and Kutubu Light have hit multi-year highs, while naphtha cracks and spot premiums have climbed amid tighter availability and shifting trade flows.

The Crude Report: TMX Series: December cargo exports poised to rise

In the latest episode of the Crude Report: TMX Series, Argus Americas Crude west coast reporter John Cordner talks with deputy editor Amanda Smith about Canadian crude exports via the Trans Mountain pipeline. Increased production and more favorable arbitrage economics are expected to boost waterborne exports from the Vancouver area.

Topics discussed:

• Although most Canadian crude exports head to the US, last year’s Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) has provided the conduit to export an average of 440,000 b/d to the US west coast and Asia this year.

• Canadian and condensate production is projected to reach a record 5.05mn b/d in the fourth quarter, increasing the need for export capacity.

• December TMX export volumes may match March’s record levels of 530,000 b/d, with indications suggesting the heavy Canadian waterborne fob Vancouver premium to inland prices in Alberta will be high enough to make pipeline flows more lucrative.