Crude Oil Consulting
Tailored insights and bespoke consulting services for the global crude oil sector. Independent analysis to support pricing strategy, commercial decisions, asset investment and market development.
Commodity expertise behind every engagement
Our consultants combine market-appropriate methodologies, proprietary data and deep sector expertise to deliver bespoke projects addressing clients’ specific commercial, strategic and investment challenges. Every engagement draws on Argus’ trusted price assessments, market reporting and regular contact with participants across global crude markets.
Supporting producers, national oil companies, traders, storage and terminal operators, investors, lenders and governments, Argus delivers tailored consulting services across global crude oil markets:
- Crude pricing and benchmarking
- Crude valuation and differentials
- Supply, demand and market fundamentals
- Trade flows and logistics
- Storage and terminal strategy
- Export market development
- Commercial and market strategy
- Investment and due diligence
A broader understanding of global Fertilizer markets
Argus consulting services has an established track record delivering valued bespoke client studies across fertilizer markets. Our consulting team leverages broader Argus commodity expertise – this includes market-leading price assessments, in-depth reporting on market-moving issues and regular market contact.
Our consultants also draw upon global fundamentals data, analytical tools, short and mid to long-term outlooks, as well proprietary pricing history and forecasts to deliver robust, market-driven recommendations.
Being able to leverage this expertise ensures that projects are conducted with a comprehensive understanding of fertilizer markets, empowering our consultants with a unique advantage.
Key capabilities
Market intelligence and long-term forecasting
Independent market outlooks covering crude supply, demand, inventories, trade flows, pricing, differentials, quality dynamics and regional market fundamentals.
Commercial due diligence and market validation
Independent assessment of market risks, asset competitiveness, pricing assumptions, offtake potential and long-term commercial viability for crude refining, storage, financing transactions and investment decisions.
Strategic and market advisory
Market entry, expansion and commercial strategy support for crude producers, traders, refiners, storage operators and investors, including target market assessment, competitive positioning and route-to-market recommendations.
Storage, logistics and trade flow analysis
Analysis of regional and global crude flows, import and export dynamics, storage utilisation, terminal competitiveness, infrastructure opportunities and logistics constraints affecting crude market access and asset performance.
Crude quality and blending analysis
Assessment of crude grades, quality characteristics, blending strategies, refining suitability and market sustainability for specific crude streams.
Price analysis and benchmarking
Support for pricing methodology reviews, crude valuation, price differentials, benchmarking, transfer pricing considerations and market-based assessment of crude realisations.
Case studies
Crude oil price benchmarking
Client request
A southeast Asian government agency required an independent assessment of the value of its crude oil and a review of its existing crude pricing strategy.Approach
Argus reviewed the client’s crude pricing methodology and assessed options for a more robust market-based pricing approach, supported by independent market analysis and valuation expertise.Results delivered
Argus delivered a written report and Excel-based pricing model to support the client’s assessment of crude value and pricing strategy.Crude terminal assessment
Client request
An independent terminal operator was evaluating the potential acquisition of a Caribbean terminal and required a market study to assess the opportunity for crude storage and related trade flows.Approach
Argus forecast regional supply and demand and assessed the growth potential for crude trade flows, logistics requirements and terminal utilisation across the Caribbean market.Results delivered
The analysis helped the client build a stakeholder business case by outlining the terminal’s opportunities, threats and long-term competitiveness.Independent assessment of crude marketing performance
Client request
A state-owned trading company required an independent assessment of crude oil marketing performance, including the impact of product quality, supply-demand pressures, price volatility, logistics, parcel sizes and achieved prices.Approach
Argus assessed market conditions, product qualities, supply-demand pressures, price volatility, logistics, parcel sizes and achieved prices to benchmark the client’s realised values against relevant market indicators.Results delivered
Argus delivered a benchmark assessment that helped the client identify trades that outperformed or underperformed the market and improve future trading performance.Crude storage pricing model
Client request
A government-owned entity with a significant crude storage asset in Africa needed support introducing a dynamic pricing element to its storage rates during negotiations with a major trading firm.Approach
Argus developed a negotiation framework and supporting tools to help the client understand how different commercial terms would affect profitability.Results delivered
The work provided the client with a step-by-step negotiation strategy and a clearer view of the financial implications of introducing dynamic storage pricing.Common client questions
- How will crude oil supply, demand and trade flows change over the next five to ten years?
- Which markets offer the strongest opportunities for crude exports, storage, trading or infrastructure investment?
- How should a producer, refiner, terminal or storage asset respond to changing crude quality, logistics and trade routes?
- What price assumptions, differentials or market benchmarks should support an investment case?
- How could regulation, energy transition, refining shifts or low-carbon fuels affect crude market strategy?