Argus Americas Crude Summit

• Aligning state and federal energy policies to deliver long-term regulatory certainty
• Leveraging technology to expand public access to well and pipeline data
• Managing the growing challenge of produced water as a constraint on shale development

• Economic growth in the age of trade wars – regional & sectoral differences
• Shifting centres of oil demand growth as China matures
• How are US-China tensions, Middle East volatility, and Russia’s repositioning reshaping oil trade flows?
• Will OPEC+ maintain unity as non-OPEC supply rises? How is renewed Middle East instability influencing OPEC’s cohesion and supply strategy for 2026 & 2027 The quality conundrum: where next for sweet-sour crude spreads?

• What are the most influential macro forces shaping oil prices into 2026,and what scenarios are traders preparing for?
• With new benchmarks emerging (for example, TMX-linked barrels, WTI MEH), how are traders adjusting their pricing models and contract structures?
• How is liquidity evolving across physical and derivative markets, and how are trading houses adapting their portfolios in response?
• How are traders using data analytics, AI, and market signals to enhance pricing and hedging strategies?
• How are firms adapting their strategies to increased speculative activity, deeper options markets, and persistent volatility?

• What are the biggest supply-side risks markets may be underestimating - from Red Sea chokepoints to political instability in key OPEC+ nations?
• Can OPEC+ maintain cohesion through 2026 as non-OPEC supply surges and internal pressures grow?
• How is Russia navigating sanctions and shifting export flows - and what’s the longer-term outlook for Urals and ESPO grades?

• Can the U.S. maintain its position as the world’s top crude producer through 2026, or are we heading toward a plateau or decline in tight oil growth?
• How is ongoing consolidation among upstream and midstream players reshaping the competitive landscape - enhancing efficiency or concentrating risk?
• What are producers prioritizing in their next phase of supply strategy, given capital discipline, ESG pressures, and price volatility?
• Are mega-mergers unlocking value, or reducing agility and innovation across shale and oil sands plays?
• Which breakthrough technologies have the potential to redefine productivity in shale, offshore, and oil sands production?

• How are evolving crude export flows - including Canadian TMX volumes and plateauing Permian output - reshaping global shipping routes and infrastructure needs?
• What are the ripple effects of Red Sea disruptions and chokepoints on freight costs, vessel availability, and route economics?
• How are traders and logistics firms adjusting to delays, congestion, and rerouting risks?
• What’s the outlook for shipbuilding capacity, fleet renewal, and vessel retirement - can supply keep pace with demand?
• Which midstream and terminal investments are most critical to enabling the next phase of North American crude exports?
  
  

Unwind and continue discussions in an informal, social atmosphere.

• How are shifting demand patterns for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel reshaping refinery slate decisions and crude preferences?
• Which grades (heavy, light, sweet, sour) are most favoured in today’s economic and regulatory environment?
• As refineries close or convert, where will displaced crude volumes go, and are we entering a structural crude surplus in the Gulf?
• How are refiners managing pricing negotiations and margin pressures amid tight supply and weak inventories?
• What could trigger the next shift in product supply or spark a margin rally?

• Is surging output from Guyana, Brazil, and Argentina shifting the balance of hemispheric supply - and can Asia absorb the volumes?
• What’s driving Latin America’s export growth - and which countries are best positioned for sustained gains?
• How resilient is Brazil’s 2025–26 production growth to political and policy change?
• What are the prospects for private investment in Brazil, Guyana, and Argentina amid FX, credit, and regulatory risks?
• How will rising Latin American supply integrate with U.S. Gulf and Asian markets, and what roles will China and India play in regional offtake?
• How are shifting trade flows and tanker dynamics - including DPP routes, Gulf Coast and Canadian crude movements, and vessel availability - reshaping Latin American crude logistics in a volatile market?

• Can TMX meaningfully shift Canada’s export strategy, or will infrastructure bottlenecks continue to limit its potential?
•  To what extent will carbon limits constrain oil sands projects in Canada?
• How are Canadian crude producers looking at the question of boosting production? What are the signs they are showing the same kind of restraint as producers in the Permian?
• How is the evolving energy relationship between Asia and the Middle East shifting, and could the TMX project disrupt traditional supply routes or trading dynamics?
• What are the key de-bottlenecking and expansion projects underway or planned in Western Canada - and how soon will they ease infrastructure constraints?

• How are China’s long-term deals with Middle Eastern and Russian suppliers reshaping the spot market for Western Hemisphere barrels?
• How is the evolving demand mix (heavy vs. light, sweet vs. sour) across China, India, and Southeast Asia influencing trade flows, pricing, and access for Canadian and U.S. crude?
• How are VLCC economics, freight pricing, and logistics being impacted by Asia’s changing sourcing strategies and ongoing supply chain disruptions?
• What are the comparative appetites for Western Hemisphere barrels among China, India, and ASEAN, and how are regional alliances (for example, India–Russia, ASEAN–China) influencing pricing and trade flexibility?
• What strategies can Canadian and Latin American producers adopt to stay competitive in Asia’s increasingly fragmented and demand-driven market?
• What role is Southeast Asia playing as an emerging refining, trading, and storage hub, and how are players in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia shaping regional crude flows?