Welcome
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- 18:00
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- 20:00
- Welcome to the Argus Global Base Oils Conference drinks reception
Open to all registered delegates. Join your peers for a drinks reception to celebrate the start of your Global Base Oils Conference.
Argus Hyde Park 5k
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- 07.30
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- Join us for a morning 5k run around the scenic Hyde Park and get those endorphins flowing! Meet at the InterContinental Park Lane lobby - Departs at 7:30am sharp
Sign up sheet to come.
Day One
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- 08:00
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- 9:00
- Morning registration and networking breakfast
- 08:50
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- 08:55
- Conference welcome Emily Harris - Conference Producer, Argus
- 08:55
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- 09:00
- Chairperson's opening remarks Guo Harn Hong - Global Lead - Base Oils, Argus
Keynote
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- 09:00
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- 09:30
- Keynote address: How to succeed in a turbulent base oils and lubricants industry Alicia Logan - General Manager, Chevron Base Oils
Macroeconomics and global market overview
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- 09:30
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- 10:00
- Macroeconomic snapshot: What impact is de-dollarization having on global trade? Marc Ostwald - Chief Economist, ADM Investor Services
This session will feature a presentation followed by audience Q&A.
- Understand the driving factors of current macroeconomic concerns such as soaring global inflation and high interest rates, conflict in Europe, the US debt crisis and more.
- Increasingly we are seeing countries shift away from trading on the US dollar – including the BRICS countries gold-based trade, and recent India-Indonesia decision to trade in Rupees – what will the lasting impacts of this be?
- Looking to the rest of 2024, what can we expect from the global economy in terms of energy markets?
- 10:00
- -
- 10:30
- Argus global overview: What are the driving macro-trends across the base oils and lubricants industries? Guo Harn Hong, Gabriella Twining - Global Lead - Base Oils and Global Editor - Base Oils, Argus
- Gain insights and perspective on the driving trends of the global base oils and lubricants market
- What are the latest demand- and supply-side developments that impact base oils, such as closures, new builds and expansions across regions, and are they sufficient to balance the market in the mid to long-term?
- What can we expect in the next 12 months in terms of supply and demand fundamentals and pricing impacts?
Morning break
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- 10:30
- -
- 11:15
- Morning coffee and networking break Located in the networking area
- 10:30
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- 11:15
- Women in base oils networking break Open to all delegates | Location - main conference room - Speakers include: Alicia Logan (Chevron Base Oils)
Open to all, join us in the main conference room for refreshments and to have an open discussion with leading women in the industry regarding their personal experiences of growth and challenges they have overcome. This is a perfect opportunity for women in the base oils and lubricants industry to meet, network, and share experiences with their peers, and for all delegates to better understand their peers and how to promote diversity and inclusivity in the base oils industry.
Speakers to be announced soon.
Speakers to be announced soon.
Russian-origin product and Argus EMEA outlook
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- 11:15
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- 12:00
- Europe’s trading red flag: How are sanctioned Russian-origin products making their way back into European markets? Speakers include - Aztec Oils
- In response to the outbreak of conflict in Europe, sanctions were placed on the trading of Russian origin base oils and their products into Europe. However, recent times have seen an alarming return of these products into the market.
- What do we know about the scale of this problem and what are the impacts of sanctioned products entering European markets and profiting?
- What does the industry need to do to combat this flow of sanctioned products – legislation loopholes, industry association lobbying, and companies making a stand.
Speakers:
- Mark Lord, Managing Director, Aztec Oils
- 12:00
- -
- 12:30
- Argus base oils EMEA: What has changed a year after the EU’s embargo on Russian oil products? Gabriella Twining - Global Editor - Base Oils, Argus
Lunch
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- 12:30
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- 14:00
- Lunch
OEMs - Approvals, testing and technology updates
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- 14:00
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- 14:30
- Approvals: How do they vary across the world and why are they valuable? Mathew Cole-Evans - OEM Manager, Lubrizol
- Engine lubricants are complex fluids engineered specifically to ensure moving parts are kept lubricated and cool to reduce wear and damage, and therefore increase the longevity of vehicles.
- What different types of OEM approvals exist and how important are they in determining the quality of finished lubricants?
- How do approval processes work around the world? What are the most important approvals in each region and how hard are they to achieve?
- 14:30
- -
- 15:15
- How are OEMs updating their technology across the automotive, marine and industrial sectors?
- What regulatory and environmental incentives are in store for OEMs across the three main sectors – automotive, marine, and industrial?
- What matrix of fuels are being considered across these sectors and how will this affect the type of lubricants needed? Considering hydrogen, biodiesel/HVO, ammonia, methanol, LNG and electrification.
- What do the panel think will be the most important developments for engines in their sectors in the future?
Break
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- 15:15
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- 15:45
- Afternoon coffee and networking break
Lubricants focus afternoon – additive packages, blender strategies and PAOs
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- 15:45
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- 16:30
- How are blenders of different sizes adapting their strategies to succeed in the current constantly changing market landscape? Speakers include: - Q8 Oils, Castrol, UKLA (United Kingdom Lubricants Association), Trinity Lubes and Greases
- Hear from different size blenders from different global regions about the challenges of the current market and how they are adapting their strategies for the future according to their size and location.
- How are blenders ensuring they are meeting growing climate targets whilst maintaining the quality and performance in their products?
Speakers:
- Joris van der List, Technology Manager, Q8 Oils
- Jayanta Chatterjee, Global Base Oil Procurement Director, Castrol
- Siddharth Sachdeva, Managing Director, Trinity Lubes and Greases
Moderator:
- David Wright, Director General, UKLA
- 16:30
- -
- 17:00
- Do polyalphaolefin (PAO) lubricants have a long-term future in the lubricants industry? Ken Hope & Michel Sanchez-Rivas - Global PAO Technical Services Manager & PAO Business Development Manager, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Polyalphaolefin (PAO) is a synthetic hydrocarbon and the most used synthetic base oil in lubricants manufacturing.
- How do PAO-based lubricants compare to traditional mineral lubricants in terms of performance, quality, and affordability?
- How does the industry best manage the trade-off between volatility and low viscosity in PAOs?
- Are PAOs a serious contender for the long-term future of the lubricants industry? What needs to be done in terms of investment and incentives to increase their use?
- Ken Hope, Global PAO Technical Services Manager, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
- Michel Sanchez-Rivas, PAO Business Development Manager EMEA, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Day one concludes and cocktail reception
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- 17:00
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- Day one closing remarks Emily Harris - Conference Producer, Argus
- 17:00
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- 19:00
- Networking drinks reception
Day Two
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- 08:00
- -
- 09:00
- Morning networking
- 08:55
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- 09:00
- Chairperson's opening remarks Guo Harn Hong - Global Lead Base Oils, Argus
Lubricating greases
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- 09:00
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- 09:45
- The uncertain future of lithium hydroxide: How are grease manufacturers responding to concerns of supply, sustainability and economic viability? Dennis Eijdenberg - Technical Support Manager, Axel Christiernsson
Lithium hydroxide is a key thickening agent used in the manufacturing of lubricating greases, approximately 70% of lubricating greases produced contain lithium.
- Understand the role of lithium hydroxide in the manufacturing and use of lubricating greases, and discover how the grease industry's market share of lithium supply is facing increased competition from batteries and more
- What other challenges face the use of lithium in manufacturing - considering the environmental impact of mining, health and safety, economic viability and more.
- What lithium-free alternatives are coming to the market and what information do we have on their availability and their performance? What are the latest lithium-free developments and potential bottlenecks to be aware of?
Hedging base oils
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- 09:45
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- 10:15
- Hedging base oils: How can the market manage risk? Speakers include - TotalEnergies, CME Group
- How do companies hedge base oils currently?
- Is crude and fuel proxy hedging still adequate?
- What elements would be needed to launch a base oils listing?
- What are the advantages and the challenges of hedging base oils?
Speakers include:
- Frédéric Vazzoler, General Manager Base Oils, TotalEnergies Supply & Marketing
- Paul Wightman, Senior Director, Research and Product Development, CME Group
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- 10:15
- -
- 10:45
- Morning coffee and networking break
Argus Americas market update and outlook
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- 10:45
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- 11:15
- Argus base oils Americas: How is base oil production differing across the Americas - versatile production, weak LatAm finished lubricant demand, production maintenance and more. John Dietrich - Associate Editor - Americas Base Oils, Argus
- How is increasing versatility in US domestic Group II/Group III production affecting the market, particularly for light grades?
- How are rising interest rates, higher base oil and additive costs driving inventory strategies across the lubricant supply chain?
- How is extensive maintenance and programmed shutdowns across Brazil in the second half of 2023 affecting LatAm market dynamics - including increased imports, need for stronger demand for finished lubricants, structural issues.
Global base oil production and re-refining
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- 11:15
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- 12:00
- Producer focus: Responding to dynamic markets and seizing future opportunities Speakers include - Ergon International
- What opportunities are available to the base oils producers in today’s changing market, and what are the macro-trends driving the industry?
- How can the industry best move forward and plan effectively to ensure security and quality of supply across the globe? Does this include plans for standardisation of ‘plus’ grades and expansion to re-refining?
- Increasing sustainability and decarbonisation pressures are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. How is the base oil industry positioning itself and what decarbonization strategies might we see?
Speakers include:
- Torsten Knipping, Sales Manager Central Europe, Ergon International
- 12:00
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- 12:45
- What does re-refining capacity look like around the world?
- Learn how re-refining technology has advanced over recent years and why it is becoming an increasingly appealing and important part of the global base oils economy
- Where are key re-refining hubs located and what is their current capacity? Are there any plans for expansion?
- What factors drive interest in re-refining in different regions – legislation, economics, waste oil availability and more.
Lunch
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- 12:45
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- 14:15
- Lunch
Argus Asia market update and outlook
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- 14:15
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- 14:45
- Argus base oils Asia: rising nameplate production capacity and evolving demand dynamics – opportunities from shifting fundamentals in the world’s largest base oil producing region Guo Harn Hong - Global Lead Base Oils, Argus
- How have supply and demand fundamentals changed in Asia?
- What are the repercussions on base oil prices, margins, and spreads?
- How will regional arbitrages change with these developments and what opportunities do they present?
Marine lubricants and freight
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- 14:45
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- 15:15
- Marine focus: How does the marine supply chain best work together to produce lubricants for a rapidly changing global bunkering industry? Speakers include - Maersk
- How are end-users in the marine industry deciding what lubricants to use going forwards?
- How are end-users, OEMs and formulators working together to ensure lubricants that are high-quality, meet testing requirements and deliver on strict decarbonisation and energy efficiency goals in the marine sector?
- How do lubricants and engines in ships powered by alternative fuels such as marine biodiesel, ammonia, methanol and hydrogen differ from lubricants designed for fuel oil and marine gas oil?
- 15:15
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- 15:45
- What is the impact of shipping volatility on base oils trade?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of different transportation modes – such as ISO containers, flexitanks etc – and how do you weigh these against each other to get the best rate for freight per metric tonne?
- How is the international shipping industry responding to challenging market conditions such as shortages of ships, labour, low water levels and fuel uncertainty?
- How do freight prices affect competitiveness for suppliers on a global scale? 2021/22 saw increased freight prices and therefore more localised trade – are current lower freight rates representing a more international market?
Conference concludes
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- 15:45
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- 15:50
- Conference closing remarks
- 15:50
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- Conference concludes