Argus Base Oils Asia, Middle East & Africa Conference

Conference day one

08:30 - 09:35

Morning registration and networking

09:35 - 09:40

Chairperson's opening remarks

Speaker:

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

09:40 - 10:10

The big picture: Macroeconomics in a changing world

• How have global commodity markets been affected by recent economic uncertainty and the conflict in the region?
• How is trade, supply and pricing of commodities being affected?
• What role will energy security and independence play in the commodity markets? 

Speaker:

Edward Bell

Acting Group Head of Research and Chief Economist

Emirates NBD

10:10 - 10:40

Argus presents: Rising nameplate production capacity and evolving demand dynamics – opportunities from shifting fundamentals in AMEA   

• How is rising GII and GIII capacity in Asia impacting the supply and demand map of this region and what affects is it having on pricing? 
• What are the key countries to pay attention to within Asia such as India and China and why are they so influential? 
• What are the potential repercussions of US tariffs on the AMEA market?

Speaker:

Li Li Chng

Associate Editor

Argus

Konstantin Levchenko

Head of Desk, Oil Products

Argus

10:40 - 11:20

Morning networking break

11:20 - 12:00

Traders’ panel: redefining strategies and business models for the base oils trade

• Seizing trade niches: an outlook of opportunities amidst supply chain fragmentation and market vacuum.
• Building capabilities and agility – how do you navigate bottlenecks and new flare points?
• As major oil players adopt AI, how will it reshape competitive dynamics and the landscape?

Speaker:

Ali Al-Ganzory

CEO

G&B Global Corp

Ramatri PD

Senior Oil Trader

Galaxy Energy Group

12:00 - 12:20

Live Market Pulse Polling

Gain real-time insights into audience sentiment on critical market topics. 

12:20 - 14:00

Lunch break

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14:00 - 14:40

No oil wasted: Scaling re-refining and waste oil circularity across AMEA’s lubricant value chain

• What is the state of play for re-refined base oils (RRBOs) in AMEA – what is the current production capacity, how is this split between Groups, what infrastructure developments are underway and what key policy is coming into place?
• Where are the key bottlenecks in building a viable RRBO ecosystem across the region - is it regulatory clarity, investment appetite, waste oil collection logistics, or something else entirely?
• What can AMEA learn from more mature re-refining markets to accelerate its transition toward a circular lubricant economy?

Speakers:

Antwan Osta

Managing Director – CEO

Yanbu United Company (YUNITCO)

Mario Majic

Head of Business Development, Corporate Governance and Communications

AVISTA OIL AG

13:30 - 14:00

Marine lubricants in a global bunkering hotspot: Meeting the evolving needs of AMEA’s fleets and offshore operations

• How is the AMEA region - home to global bunkering hubs like Singapore, Fujairah, and major shipping lanes - shaping the future of marine lubricants and greases?
• What impact are decarbonisation mandates, alternative marine fuels, and fleet optimisation strategies having on lubricant formulation and performance requirements?
• How do marine lubricant demands differ across AMEA’s diverse maritime ecosystems - from offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf, to container shipping in China, to R&D driven innovation in Japan and Korea?

14:40 - 15:00

Thermal, dielectric, durable: Engineering next-gen fluids for electric vehicles

• What are the implications of EV adoption timelines in key AMEA markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and South Africa on lubricant demand?
• How are lubricant formulators in AMEA adapting to the unique thermal, dielectric, and material compatibility requirements of electric vehicles and hybrids?
• How are OEMs and additive companies collaborating to develop EV lubricants that balance regional climate regulations, charging infrastructure limitations, and vehicle usage patterns?

Speaker:

Nikhil Agarwal

Managing Director

Globestar Energy FZE

14:20 - 14:50

China’s base oil boom: How China’s increased domestic production is redrawing AMEA’s export landscape

• How is China’s rising domestic base oil production, driven by new Group II and III capacity, reshaping global trade flows and impacting traditional export markets in the Middle East and Asia?
• How are Chinese producers positioning themselves in the global value chain, and what role does government policy, state-owned enterprises, and Belt and Road infrastructure play in expanding their regional footprint?

15:00 - 15:30

Afternoon coffee and networking break

15:30 - 16:10

From chokepoints to corridors – Navigating base oil logistics in a volatile world

• How is the industry mitigating risks from Red Sea disruptions, sanctions, and chokepoints at vital oil trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz and Suez Canal?
• What impact are fluctuating freight rates and container shortages having on base oil pricing, delivery timelines, and inventory strategies? How are companies adapting to new customs regulations, import duties, and local requirements in emerging African and Southeast Asian markets?
• What are the technical and economic trade-offs between bulk shipping, flexitanks, and ISO containers for base oil and additive transport in fragmented markets?

Speakers:

Shailesh Bildikar

Commercial Director – Maritime Logistics

Emirates Ship Investment Company LLC

Myrko Anthonio

Chartering Manager

Stolt Tankers

16:10 - 16:40

Futureproofing base oils and lubricants: decoding the energy transition to 2050

• Refining 2.0 – closures, new capacities, and aggressive biofuel and marine fuel legislation is reshaping the base oil supply chain. What will competitiveness look like in a decarbonizing world? 
• Unpack how shifts in mobility and energy systems will trigger a rebalancing of the global base oils mix (Group I–V) through 2050 and where the next growth pockets will emerge.

Speaker:

Irina Vinogradova

Senior Manager - Consulting

Argus

16:40 - 16:45

Chairperson's closing remarks and day one concludes

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

16:45 - 18:45

Networking reception

Conference day two

09:30 - 09:55

Morning networking

09:55 - 10:00

Chairperson's opening remarks

Speaker:

Gabriella Twining

Global Editor - Base Oils

Argus

10:00 - 10:30

Argus presents: The base oils outlook for Asia and the Middle East 

• What can we expect from 2026 and beyond in terms of supply and demand fundamentals, pricing implications, and the development of intra-regional trade flows? 
• What is the big picture for Asian and Middle Eastern base oil trade considering the changing refinery landscape, global economic recessions and sustainability pressures? 
• How do new markets such as re-refined base oils (RRBOs), demand from Africa and more fit into the mid- to long-term development of Asian and Middle Eastern base oil industries? 

Speakers:

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

Gabriella Twining

Global Editor - Base Oils

Argus

10:30 - 10:50

Naphthenic and heavy-grade base oils in 2026: Growth, innovation, and the way forward

• Gaps created by global market developments, products that can help fill the heavy viscosity and mid-solvency gap, and the role of naphthenic base oils
• With the shift to bio-based and eco-friendly formulations, are environmental regulations in North America and Europe a barrier or a catalyst for innovation?
• With rising production costs and pressure from cheaper alternatives, can producers continue to expand into new markets and applications without compromising performance or profitability?

Speaker:

Austin Hipps

Technical Marketing Engineer – Base Oils

Ergon, Inc.

10:50 - 11:30

Morning networking break

11:30 - 11:50

Overcoming lubricant challenges in the Middle East and Africa

• Explore how manufacturers are engineering products to withstand MEA’s extreme temperature variations, from desert heat to cooler nights and diverse African climates 
• Lubricant agility – meeting the demands of diverse imported vehicle specifications especially from Europe and Japan 
• What is the outlook for bio-based formulations?  

Speaker include:

Trivendra Kumar

Technical Manager

Coraplus India

11:50 - 12:30

Unlocking a continent in motion: Exploring Africa’s diverse landscape

• Where are the most promising lubricant growth markets in Africa – from Nigeria and Kenya to Egypt and South Africa – and what’s driving demand?
• How are infrastructure gaps, regulatory fragmentation, import dependency, and geopolitical factors shaping the base oil and blending economy of Africa?
• What investment is available for plants and building logistics networks? How can Africa position itself for sustainable best practices including waste oil collection, re-refining and localised blending plants?

Speakers:

Amit Dhiman

Country Manager (Lubes), Middle East & Africa

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

Ashish Bodade

Procurement Hub Manager, Middle East and Africa

Castrol

12:30 - 12:40

Chairperson's closing remarks

Speaker:

Gabriella Twining

Global Editor - Base Oils

Argus

12:40

Conference concludes and networking lunch, continue private meetings