Swiss agribusiness Ameropa has tapped fertilizer subsidiary head Josh Zacharias to serve as chief executive starting today.
Zacharia succeeds former chief executive William Dujardin, who resigned 30 November for personal reasons after nearly four years in the role.
Zacharias was promoted from chief executive of Ameropa's subsidiary Azomures, a nitrogen fertilizer producer in Romania.
London, 17 December (Argus) — Lower US and west African gasoline demand is likely to keep European Medium Range (MR) tanker rates drifting in 2026. The US has become more reliant on domestic gasoline production, as weaker European refinery output made oil products from the region more expensive and uncompetitive. Freight rates on average in 2025 on the UK Continent to US Atlantic coast route stood at $22.46/t, compared with $26.38/t in the same period in 2024, as US gasoline imports on MRs have plunged since mid-2025, slumping to just 90,000 b/d in November from 349,000 b/d in May. Trade on the UK Continent to west Africa MR route has also waned, although it rallied briefly in late 2025 as a result of a now-scrapped Nigerian import tariff on gasoline and diesel and a seasonal increase in demand. Rates averaged $30.84/t in 2025, down from $33.67/t in the same period a year earlier. Nigeria's independently-owned 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery cut its gasoline asking prices from 872 naira/l ($0.60/l) in early November to N828/l ($0.57/l) by 10 November. This will probably keep European imports uneconomical for Nigerian buyers. Dangote said it will supply 50mn litres/d (315,000 b/d) of gasoline in December and January to its domestic market, and 57mn l/d (359,100 b/d) from February, which could make imports from Europe largely redundant. For comparison, gasoline consumption in Nigeria was around 50.9mn l/d (320,670 b/d) in the 12 months to October. But sanctions on Russian oil firms Lukoil and Rosneft have weighed on diesel exports from India and Turkey, creating concerns about European supplies and turned participants' focus towards other exporters. This could provide support to the transatlantic rate, as participants will seek to replace Russian-related product with non-Russian, potentially importing more diesel from the US. US spat US president Donald Trump's build-up of military hardware in Caribbean waters could put 20pc of US Gulf coast refined product exports in shaky territory if tension between the US and Venezuela escalates into open conflict. Over the past 12 months, the Caribbean region — which includes buyers in Colombia, Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Saint Lucia as well as Central American countries such as Panama — has imported the majority of US Gulf coast refined products at an average of 643,300 b/d, Vortexa data show. These shipments were primarily diesel and gasoline, alongside smaller amounts of naphtha. Venezuela's naphtha imports from the US Gulf in May 2025, when the last of US sanction waivers expired, were 87,500 b/d, according to Vortexa. The product is used to dilute the country's extra-heavy crude. Only 15,000 b/d of naphtha flowed back to Venezuela when Chevron received a new waiver in August. Venezuelan buyers have turned to Russian supply from the Mediterranean carried on larger tankers, removing tonne-mile demand overall from the MR segment while lowering the amount of physical activity within the US Gulf coast spot market. Escalating conflict between the US and Venezuela could add war-risk premium insurance costs to Caribbean islands and Colombian trade, making Russian suppliers more competitive and potentially rerouting some of the 420,900 b/d the US Gulf coast exports to other destinations. This could make suppliers like Russia more competitive for this traditionally US Gulf coast-supplied region. If shipowners avoid the Caribbean region because of a conflict, this could increase competition for west coast South America-bound voyages and could boost Panama Canal transit if demand from Chile and Peru increases. This would raise the average auction cost for the Panamax locks for MRs, which typically carry refined products from the US Gulf coast. By Erika Tsirikou and Ross Griffith Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Washington, 16 December (Argus) — US president Donald Trump dramatically escalated the conflict with Venezuela Tuesday night by declaring a blockade of most Venezuelan seaborne oil shipments. Trump, in a social media post, also demanded — without providing any credible explanation — that Venezuela return "all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us." Venezuelan oil flows to Cuba already have stopped and cargoes to other destinations were grinding to a halt, following the 10 December seizure of a Cuba-bound Venezuelan oil tanker by the US Coast Guard. "I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump said. The tanker seized by the US was previously sanctioned for alleged involvement in transporting Iranian oil. More than 30 tankers could be within the reach of US naval forces positioned near Venezuela if Washington decides to continue seizing ships on its sanctions list. It is not clear what Trump meant by claiming that Caracas "stole" US-owned oil, land or assets, especially his reference to "land". Venezuela during the rule of former president Hugo Chavez nationalized assets of US and other western companies. The government of President Nicolas Maduro also faces claims of expropriation of mining and other western assets, and it has defaulted on sovereign debt obligations. All in all, almost $60bn worth of claims have been advanced against Caracas and state-owned PdV in US courts and international tribunals. A US federal court ordered the sale of PdV-owned US refiner Citgo to partially satisfy those claims. Trump's post concluded a day that featured his senior national security advisers briefing US lawmakers on the US military operations near Venezuela, without mentioning a possible escalation that likely requires congressional approval. The US has stationed a large naval force in the waters near Venezuela since early September as part of an effort ostensibly aimed at stopping waterborne drug shipments. The US Navy has reported having destroyed 25 boats allegedly carrying drugs near the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia since early September, killing 98 crew members. The most recent strikes, destroying three boats, took place on Monday. US lawmakers briefed by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and secretary of state Marco Rubio earlier on Tuesday said they were left wondering about the ultimate objectives of the US military operation. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sao Paulo, 16 December (Argus) — Brazil's 2025-26 soybean planting advanced to 94.1pc of the expected area in the week ended 13 December, according to national supply company Conab. Planting advanced by 3.8 percentage points from the week prior. The 2024-25 sowing was 96.8pc complete at this time in 2024. The five-year average for the period is 90.6pc. Sowing activities have finished in central-western Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, southeastern Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais, and southern Parana states. Summer corn Planting for the 2025-26 first corn crop reached 77.5pc of Brazil's expected area, up by 6.2 percentage points on the week, according to Conab. That is slightly ahead of the 75pc planted at this time last year for the 2024-25 cycle. This season's progress is also ahead of the 70.3pc five-year average for the period. Parana and Sao Paulo have already finished planting. Cotton Planting activities for the 2025-26 cotton crop reached 10.1pc completion in the week ended 13 December, according to Conab. Activities advanced by 4.8 percentage points from the previous week. Northeastern Maranhao is the only state where activities have not started. Sowing nationwide is slightly above the five-year average for the period of 5.8pc, but below the 12.2pc pace in the same week last season. Wheat The 2025 wheat harvest advanced by 1.7 percentage points to 99.7pc of the area sowed nationwide in the week ended 13 December. The 2024 crop was 100pc harvested at this time a year ago. This season's progress is slightly ahead of the 98.7pc five-year average for the week. By Bruno Castro Planting progress % State 2025 2024 Five-year average 13 Dec 6 Dec 14 Dec Soybean crop, 2025-26 Tocantins 98.0 93.0 99.0 89.8 Maranhao 42.0 38.0 59.0 51.4 Piaui 88.0 78.0 94.0 76.2 Bahia 97.0 94.0 97.0 87.2 Mato Grosso 100.0 100.0 100.0 99.7 Mato Grosso do Sul 100.0 99.0 100.0 98.8 Goias 97.0 92.0 99.3 92.4 Minas Gerais 100.0 98.2 100.0 94.6 Sao Paulo 100.0 100.0 100.0 98.8 Parana 100.0 97.0 100.0 98.0 Santa Catarina 86.0 79.0 91.0 79.9 Rio Grande do Sul 81.0 69.0 91.0 70.6 Total 94.1 90.3 96.8 90.6 Summer corn crop, 2025-26 Maranhao 6.0 4.0 5.0 5.6 Piaui 8.0 4.0 10.0 5.2 Bahia 86.0 71.0 63.0 58.0 Goias 80.0 70.0 99.0 64.4 Minas Gerais 97.0 85.2 100.0 89.8 Sao Paulo 100.0 90.0 100.0 92.2 Parana 100.0 100.0 100.0 99.6 Santa Catarina 99.7 98.9 100.0 98.4 Rio Grande do Sul 90.0 87.0 88.0 86.0 Total 77.5 71.3 75.0 70.3 Cotton crop, 2025-26 Maranhao 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 Piaui 5.0 0.0 8.0 1.0 Bahia 32.0 20.0 43.0 21.6 Mato Grosso 2.4 0.8 2.5 0.9 Mato Grosso do Sul 22.0 10.0 45.0 16.6 Goias 45.0 5.0 54.0 21.2 Minas Gerais 33.0 16.0 38.0 13.4 Total 10.1 5.3 12.2 5.8 — Conab Harvesting progress % State 2025 2024 Five-year average 13 Dec 6 Dec 14 Dec Wheat crop, 2025 Goias 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Minas Gerais 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Bahia 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Rio Grande do Sul 100.0 99.0 100.0 96.2 Parana 100.0 99.0 100.0 99.6 Santa Catarina 93.0 74.0 100.0 85.0 Sao Paulo 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Mato Grosso do Sul 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Total 99.7 98.0 100.0 98.7 — Conab Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Sao Paulo, 16 December (Argus) — US fertilizer producer and exporter Mosaic has idled its phosphate-based SSP production in Brazil, following increases in sulphur prices. The company announced Tuesday the halt at its Fospar, in southern Parana state, and Araxa, in southeastern Minas Gerais state, facilities. Mosaic also suspended sulphur purchases. Mosaic may review the decisions after 30 days. Global sulphur prices are on an upward trend, as the metals and battery industries are also demanding the oil refinery subproduct. Prices in Brazil rose by almost threefold in 2025 to $528/t cfr on 11 December from $178/t in late 2024. Prices have been increasing especially since 20 February, when levels were at $192/t cfr. Sulphur prices have now surpassed the $525/t level from 2022, when the Ukraine-Russia conflict raised prices to their highest level since Argus began assessing the prices in 2012. In August-October, several SSP sales from Brazil's domestic production — which also encompasses Galvani and CMOC — were concluded at prices lower than the import levels, pressuring the fertilizer price down to $175-180/t cfr at ports. Prices fell to $255/t fob Paranagua, in southern Parana state, and $288/t fob Rondonopolis, in central-western Mato Grosso state, in October, the lowest level since 2023. Mosaic did not provide the production capacity data on the units. By Gisele Augusto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.
Learn more