News and insights
Reporting market moving events as they happen
Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well- informed decisions.
Our world-class team of market reporters and journalists specialise in the coverage of commodity markets across the globe. We are in constant contact with industry participants, revealing, reporting and analysing the events that shape the global energy and commodities landscape.
With our news and market commentary opportunities to further your strategies are uncovered and clarified. We illuminate specific aspects of the markets directly relevant to your business.
Global coverage through a local lens
500+ stories published every day
From commentary on price movements to fundamentals analysis to macroeconomics, we are constantly publishing insightful stories throughout the day.
10,000+ stories each year
As markets move, so does our coverage. Every day of every month of every year, we are tracking and commentating on every market.
600+ editorial staff
Our specialist team of reporters and journalists are located where the action happens, reporting from every key energy and commodity hub across the globe.
Latest news
Explore the latest market moving news from Argus.
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Lyondell Houston refinery to run at 95pc in 2Q
Houston, 26 April (Argus) — LyondellBasell plans to run its 264,000 b/d Houston, Texas, refinery at average utilization rates of 95pc in the second quarter and may convert its hydrotreaters to petrochemical production when the plant shuts down in early 2025. The company's sole crude refinery ran at an average 79pc utilization rate in the first quarter due to planned maintenance on a coking unit , the company said in earnings released today . "We are evaluating options for the potential reuse of the hydrotreaters at our Houston refinery to purify recycled and renewable cracker feedstocks," chief executive Peter Vanacker said on a conference call today discussing earnings. Lyondell said last year a conversion would feed the company's two 930,000 metric tonnes (t)/yr steam crackers at its Channelview petrochemicals complex. The company today said it plans to make a final investment decision on the conversion in 2025. Hydrotreater conversions — such as one Chevron completed last year at its 269,000 b/d El Segundo, California, refinery — allow the unit to produce renewable diesel, which creates renewable naphtha as a byproduct. Renewable naphtha can be used as a gasoline blending component, steam cracker feed or feed for hydrogen producing units, according to engineering firm Topsoe. Lyondell last year said the Houston refinery will continue to run until early 2025, delaying a previously announced plan to stop crude processing by the end of 2023. By Nathan Risser Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Azerbaijan wants certainty from EU on gas needs
Azerbaijan wants certainty from EU on gas needs
London, 26 April (Argus) — Azerbaijan needs long-term guarantees and available financial instruments to invest in gas production growth, its president Ilham Aliyev said earlier this week. Azerbaijan and the EU signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2022, in which Azerbaijan committed to increasing its supply to the EU to 20bn m³/yr by 2027 from 8bn m³ in 2021. This is a "target that we are moving towards" and exports to Europe will be around 12bn m³ this year, Aliyev said on 23 April at the Cop 29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan forum ( see Azeri gas production graph ). But Azerbaijan needs investments to reach this export target, and restrictions from financing institutions on fossil fuel projects make them harder to realise, Alyiev said. The European Investment Bank has removed fossil fuel projects from its portfolio and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has only a small share of such projects, Aliyev said. Corporations tend to finance 30pc of gas production or infrastructure projects on their own and the remainder through loans, he said. The other issue is a need to receive long-term guarantees for Azeri gas supply, as "Azerbaijan cannot invest billions only for 5-10 years and not be able to recover the costs", Aliyev said. Azerbaijan is still paying back loans for the Southern Gas Corridor and Shah Deniz Stage 2 projects, he said. A long-proposed Ionian-Adriatic pipeline that could provide the Balkan region with Azeri gas is yet to materialise because it lacks EU funding support and gas consumption in the countries involved is low, particularly considering the challenges involved with building a pipeline in a mountainous region, Aliyev said. But Azeri gas can already reach Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Montenegro through Hungary, while it can flow to Serbia through Bulgaria, he said. Aliyev said he believes that the Croatian and Azeri governments are already in consultation about this. Referring to a long-mooted project to build a pipeline across the Caspian Sea to deliver Turkmen gas to Europe, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has "received no messages from Turkmenistan". Azerbaijan as a transit country cannot become the initiator or co-ordinator of a trans-Caspian pipeline project, Aliyev said. The Southern Gas Corridor is fully booked, meaning that infrastructure developments are needed to transport more gas to Europe, which is "under discussion", Aliyev said. Azerbaijan plans renewables build-out Azerbaijan is targeting 5GW of additional renewable generation capacity, which it aims to substitute for gas, releasing this supply for export to Europe, Aliyev said. Azerbaijan's first 240MW solar plant was inaugurated in 2023. It plans to add four new 1.3GW solar and wind projects this year and is considering some offshore and onshore wind projects as well as solar and hydropower plants. Azeri gas consumption for power generation and heating needs increased to 6.6bn m³ in 2022 from 6.1bn m³ in 2020, and made up almost half of domestic consumption in 2022 ( see data and download ). Azerbaijan is in the last phase of a feasibility study for a green energy cable from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea and then further down to Europe. The project aims to initially connect the Georgian Black Sea to the Romanian coast, and plans to expand it further down to the eastern Caspian and Kazakhstan, according to Aliyev. The state plans to keep investing to strengthen the energy grid to allow it to cope with the renewables build-out. Foreign investors are mainly involved with renewables projects. Oil and gas makes up less than half of Azerbaijan's GDP today, but 95pc of its exports, Aliyev said. By Victoria Dovgal Azeri gas production bn m³ Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US M&A deals dip after record 1Q: Enverus
US M&A deals dip after record 1Q: Enverus
New York, 26 April (Argus) — US oil and gas sector mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are likely to slow for the rest of the year following a record $51bn in deals in the first quarter, consultancy Enverus says. Following an unprecedented $192bn of upstream deals last year, the Permian shale basin continued to dominate first-quarter M&A as firms competed for the remaining high-quality inventory on offer. Acquisitions were led by Diamondback Energy's $26bn takeover of Endeavor Energy Resources. Other private operators, such as Mewbourne Oil and Fasken Oil & Ranch, would be highly sought after if they decided to put themselves up for sale, Enverus says. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
IEA forecasts slower demand growth for EVs
IEA forecasts slower demand growth for EVs
London, 26 April (Argus) — Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will continue to grow in most major markets this year, but at a slower rate, the IEA says. Global EV sales are due to top 17mn, more than a fifth of total global vehicle sales, but growth is expected to slow on 2023 in major markets. Almost 14mn new EVs were registered last year , up by 35pc on 2022, with 95pc of EV sales in China, Europe and the US. China will account for over half of global EV sales this year, with sales growing by 25pc on the year in 2024, passing 10mn for the first time. Under the IEA's stated policies scenario, EVs make up half of all car sales by 2035, reducing oil demand by 10mn b/d. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Already a subscriber?
Log into Argus Direct now to explore our extensive catalogue of news, commentary and analysis articles.
Log in now