Argus Possibility Curves and Covid-19-related crude price destruction 01 September 2021. As early as December 2019, the Argus Possibility Curves drivers showed a negative economic change in Asia-Pacific that ultimately put heavy downward pressure on crude prices. Download this case study to see how Argus Possibility Curves users could have been alerted by these red flags.
Seaborne coking coal market first-half 2021 review 17 August 2021. Chinese coking coal import prices rose above $300/t cfr and reached a record premium to fob basis prices in the first half of 2021, as China’s ban on Australian coal continued to redraw trade flows and weigh on spot trade volumes. In this white paper, we review the first half of 2021 for the seaborne coking coal market and provide an outlook for the rest of the year.
Argus Media cif Hamburg Assessment 23 July 2021. The unique diesel market in Germany calls for unique pricing. Germany is a very different market for diesel than other European countries. To better represent the German market, Argus has revised its cif Hamburg diesel cargo assessment to bring more reflective prices which encapsulates the wider market.
NPK prices record sharpest rises to hit multi-year high 23 July 2021. Global NPK prices have risen sharply this year to reach multi-year highs, spurred partly by even faster raw material price rises, most notably for urea and DAP/MAP.
Decarbonisation of steel is the future 22 July 2021. The global ferrous sector’s transition towards decarbonisation will not be an overnight switch but a journey, riddled with stumbling blocks. In this white paper, we analyse the future of the steel industry with key industry participants.
Taiwanese scrap import futures launch this month 13 July 2021. As the London Metal Exchange (LME) prepares to launch the new LME Steel Scrap CFR Taiwan (Argus) contract, we examine what needs and markets the new price risk management product serves.
The Argus European electricity markets mid-year review 2021 July 2021. Argus European Electricity Markets mid-year review 2021 provides well-researched analysis of the trends taking shape in different European markets.
Parlous state of play: the iron ore pricing mechanism 7 July 2021. For years, Argus has highlighted forces fragmentating the mainstream iron ore market. Chief among those was a wish by China to have some choice over the index it used. This has happened, to a degree. But diversification presented a paradox: to avoid chaos, some basic uniformity in that choice was required. Whilst market members investigated the options, execution faltered, preventing the market from coalescing.
China’s tax reform to impact bitumen from independent refiners 8 June 2021. Bitumen production from independent refiners in China is expected to shift in 2021 following the recent mandate to implement consumption tax on blendstock like “bitumen mixture” from 12 June. Learn more about the tax reform and its impact on bitumen and fuel oil prices, and the overall outlook for China's bitumen market in 2021.
Argus market update: European PVC balance set to remain tight in 3Q 2 June 2021. A flurry of domestic production issues, lower US imports and firm construction demand have tightened the European PVC balance so far in 2021. A prolonged supply crunch, coupled with a demand growth in home renovation applications such as profiles, fittings and flooring, are likely to support PVC margins further going forward. In this white paper, Argus will provide an in-depth analysis of current PVC market dynamics in Europe, and how recent expectations in supply and demand flows will drive pricing and production margins later in the third quarter.
Propylene global capacity update 31 May 2021. Propylene capacity will increase by over 30pc in the next 5 years with PDH being the fastest growing source and the refinery sector being the most vulnerable to change. This surge in new capacity is based predominantly in China where there is also strong growth in demand. But, with no clear cost leadership to incentivize investment in one geographic region, all regions are investing in new production facilities. In this white paper, we explore the issues and evolution of the various propylene sources.
Proposals for volume-weighted average price indexes 21 May 2021. Argus proposes to launch new volume-weighted average indexes for 0.5pc sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and 0.1pc sulphur marine gasoil (MGO) bunker prices at two key European hubs — Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) in northwest Europe, and Gibraltar, Algeciras and Ceuta in the western Mediterranean.
Tight copper concentrate supply driving calls for price transparency 14 May 2021. Electrification has been driving rising demand for copper, with prices for the refined metal recently pushing above $10,000/t and China expanding smelter capacity to meet this demand. But it is tight supply of copper concentrate — the raw material, rather than the refined metal — that is dictating prices throughout the copper supply chain.
Changing US gasoline specification changes and the impact to global trade US fuel quality standards will streamline a complex patchwork of regional specifications governing cleaner-burning reformulated gasoline in time to impact the high demand summer driving season, but how will this impact trade flows coming from Europe in the US?
Three perspectives on Greece's gas hub hopes 15 April 2021. Updates and insight on Greece's natural gas market from three industry experts discussing the country's hopes to become a hub on two axes, the planned LNG terminal in Alexandroupolis and the launch of a gas exchange trading platform.
