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?

• As the TMX pipeline expansion progresses, where will incremental Canadian barrels flow - U.S. West Coast, Asia, or further afield?
• How are Canadian producers positioning themselves in price-sensitive Asian markets?
• Price mechanics: How do Canadian sellers hope to keep their barrels competitive in the Chinese coastal market? Will more TMX crude be sold on a delivered China basis?
• What’s the impact of Canadian flows on U.S. West Coast refiners and regional benchmarks?
• What is the future of TMX heavy crude in California? How can Canada flex its muscles with the US, and particularly California? Could Canada’s growing export independence reduce pricing alignment with U.S. benchmarks?

• 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?

• Where are the next chokepoints and investment needs across key terminals and pipelines? What investments are needed at ports and storage facilities to keep pace with growing exports?
• As US crude production slows or even declines, while Canadian output rises, do we have the pipeline and export infrastructure needed to handle this shift?
• How are basin dynamics in key regions like the Permian, Bakken, and Canadian oil sands affecting pipeline throughput and midstream operations?
• What’s the impact of TMX, Corpus Christi, and Gulf Coast expansions on global crude routing and trade flows?
• With Permian growth plateauing, how might pipeline and dock expansion plans on the U.S. Gulf Coast be adjusted? Are there opportunities for asset repurposing or consolidation?
• How are storage players and midstream firms using optionality to create value (for example, storage + export bundling)?