February 2020
London, UK

Argus Chlor-Alkali Conference

Pre-register
  • February 2020
  • 08:30
  • -
  • 09:30
  • Registration and refreshments
  • 09:30
  • -
  • 09:40
  • Chairperson’s opening remarks and antitrust reminder Andy Nicholson - Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus
  • 09:40
  • -
  • 10:10
  • How global supply-demand dynamics have evolved since 2018 Stephanie Koenig - Editor, Chlor-Alkali and Derivatives, Argus
  • Overview of products and qualities in the market: US, China, Middle East and Europe
  • Outline of key market drivers that are influencing global trade flows
  • How has supply of products in Europe changed in the past 2-3 years?
 
  • 10:10
  • -
  • 10:40
  • Videolink Interview: Asia Chlor-Alkali market: Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Bernard Law - Editor Chlor-Alkali, Asia, Argus

  • Getting to grips with the Iberian market: Scale of the chlor-alkali industry

  • How is a shortage in the Mediterranean region filled?

  • Capabilities and capacities for imports and exports in the Mediterranean

  • 10:40
  • -
  • 11:30
  • Networking break
 
  • 11:30
  • -
  • 12:00
  • Indian Chlor-Alkali market: Outlook and evaluating the market drivers for caustic soda Arun Tiyagi - Head of Marketing, Nuberg Engineering
  • Growth structure of the chlor-alkali industry
  • Current outlook for chlor-alkali projects
  • Assessment of growth market and regional needs
  • 12:00
  • -
  • 12:40
  • Panel Discussion: Market competition: How European products fit in the global market

  • Where are the commercial growth opportunities for European chlor-alkali suppliers?

  • The costs of chlor-alkali production in Europe and internationally

  • Have European end-users changed their buying strategies?

Chairman: Andy Nicholson, Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus

Plamen Angelov, Product and Marketing Director, Dow Europe
Stephanie Koening, Editor, Chlor-Alkali and Derivatives, Argus
Adrian Warren, General Manager, Chemical Department, Mitsui & Co Europe

  • 12:40
  • -
  • 14:10
  • Lunch break

13:20 – 14:00

During your lunch break, take the opportunity to meet your speakers. A selection of the speakers will be available to answer your questions directly, one-on-one.

  • 14:10
  • -
  • 14:30
  • Spotlight: Drivers dictating the buyer’s decision in the Nordic region Rajesh Shethia - Managing Director, Hiranyavarnaam Alkalis

  • Overview: Supply/demand outlook in the Nordic region

  • Implicated costs for the buyer in sourcing caustic soda

  • When does a buyer go for long-term contracts vs. spot purchases?


  • 14:30
  • -
  • 15:00
  • New revenue opportunities: What the fuel cell industry means for hydrogen demand Diana Raine - Managing Consultant, E4tech
  • Do regulatory pressures support fuel cell development in a carbon-neutral transport mix?
  • What is the market share for hydrogen fuel cells as opposed to other clean transport methods?
  • Which countries have the potential to push demand and where can they source from?
  • 14:50
  • -
  • 15:30
  • Networking break
 
  • 15:30
  • -
  • 16:00
  • How will the aluminium industry weather the storm? Martin Haller - Director, Haller Metals Economics
  • To what extent has geopolitical instability impacted alumina demand and production?
  • How does the industry react to and prepare for changing tariffs
  • Where are the opportunities for growth in the alumina industry?
  • 16:00
  • -
  • 16:30
  • US Chlor-Alkali: Advancements in sustainable and secure distribution of chlor-alkali products Frank Reiner - President, The Chlorine Institute

  • Production capacity in North America

  • Technical and regulatory developments in the safe transportation of products

  • New regulation impacting Chlor Alkali production


  • 16:30
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  • 16:40
  • Closing remarks
 
  • 16:40
  • -
  • 19:00
  • Evening drinks reception
Join fellow attendees for a relaxed evening of informal networking.
  • 08:50
  • -
  • 09:30
  • Registration and refreshments
  • 09:30
  • -
  • 09:40
  • Chairperson’s opening remarks and antitrust reminder Andy Nicholson - Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus
  • 09:40
  • -
  • 10:10
  • What opportunities and challenges does the higher need for sustainability mean for the PVC Industry? Juergen Luderer - Sales and Product Director, Vinnolit
  • How has the environmental pressure on PVC developed. Is it increasing?
  •  What are the major achievements of the PVC industry from an environmental point of view?
  • What opportunities do you see for the PVC industry stemming from sustainability?
  • What are the major challengers ahead?
  • How are PVC manufacturers tackling environmental pressures?
  • 10:10
  • -
  • 10:40
  • How has the energy price developed in Europe and how can manufacturers futureproof by understanding the price of electricity? Trevor Sikorski - Head of Coal, Gas and Carbon Research, Energy Aspects

  • Overview: Trends and market drivers in energy pricing over the past five years

  • EUAs, electrification and clean energy: How this mix has consequences for electricity pricing

  • Clean energy mix: European plans to go green and the repercussions on electricity pricing


  • 10:40
  • -
  • 11:10
  • Networking break
 
  • 11:10
  • -
  • 11:50
  • What can industrials, including end-user manufacturers and chlor-alkali producers, do to prepare and cope with electricity costs? Bondalti and Energy Aspects
  • Solutions for lowering energy costs
  • Key market changes that can affect the price
  • How best to source clean energy and reduce your carbon footprint

Chairman: Andy Nicholson, Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus
Teresa Marques, Logistics, Production Planning and Energy Management, Bondalti Chemicals
Trevor Sikorski, Head of Coal, Gas and Carbon Research, Energy Aspects

  • 11:50
  • -
  • 12:20
  • Cost-calculating: Implied costs for transport and logistics

  • How limitations of transport routes are changing in terms of vessel access and freight availability

  • IMO 2020: How did the transition pan out?

  • Preparing for costs from disruptions in the supply chain

Chairman: Andy Nicholson, Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus

Adrian Brown, Senior Research Analyst, Simpson Spence Young 

  • 12:20
  • -
  • 13:20
  • Lunch break
 
  • 13:20
  • -
  • 13:50
  • Roundtables and refreshments

Roundtable 1: Caustic soda flakes – The role of geopolitics in opportunity for European exports
Łukasz Jarzabek, Deputy of Commercial Director, PCC Rokita

Roundtable 2:  The effect of Asian markets on the global chlor-alkali industry
Rajesh Shethia, Managing Director, Hiranyavarnaam Alkalis

Roundtable 3: Customer value creation: What are the customers’ pending needs and how can the Chlor-Alkali industry meet such needs (product quality, services, logistics, …)
Jacques Terjan, TDI and Chlor-Alkali Sales Director, Vencorex France

  • 13:50
  • -
  • 14:00
  • Closing remarks Andy Nicholson - Vice-President, Market Development Petrochemicals, Argus