Rising European ethanol use sparks changes in gasoline benchmarks EU-wide targets, stemming from mandates such as the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive, have driven the uptake of ethanol-blended gasoline across Europe. After extensive consultation with market participants, Argus will evolve the methodology for its gasoline benchmarks to reflect rising adoption of E10 gasoline.
South African coal exports shift to Asia as European demand wanes When Europe stopped imported Russian coal in August last year, South Africa emerged as a key supplier to the continent, reprising a role it once held many years ago. But as European inventories have filled – and demand for coal dropped off – South African coal flows have tilted to Asia, with sellers capitalising on a recent convergence between Russian prices and other key global benchmarks.
NW Europe biofuels bunker demand from ships without scrubbers to rise in 2024 Vessels traveling in EU territorial waters will have to begin paying for their CO2 emissions starting next year. As a result, demand for biofuels for bunkering from vessels without scrubbers could increase in northwest Europe. By contrast, vessels with scrubbers could continue to burn high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) in the region. Continue reading in the white paper.
US Consumption of Plastics Goods and Polyolefin Demand. Argus recently launched a monthly outlook service for polyethylene and polypropylene spot markets. This white paper discusses trends and possible impacts for spot resin trading activities for the next several months. Argus' polymer expert Terry Glass analyses data from the Global Trade Tracker and ACC’s Plastics Industry Producers’ Stats Group report. Published May 2023.
Red light to Bluewashing Policymakers, journalists and consumers are grappling with unfamiliar production modes for commodities. For a short while definitions will be up in the air, offering a “Wild West” for product marketers.
Japan’s growing demand for wood pellets: An outlook April 2023. Japan’s wood pellet demand is set to more than double from 4.4mn t in 2022 to 10mn t/yr by 2025. The country surpassed South Korea to became Asia’s biggest wood pellet consumer in 2022. The two countries require different certifications to import wood pellets, but this has not quelled the competition to secure pellets in southeast Asia.
Identifying a better way to trade Nola urea April 2023. In this concise market insight paper, Argus analyse the vulnerability of legacy New Orleans (Nola) urea assessments and how a volume-driven price can protect indexes from day-to-day volatility underpinned by scant trade.
Poland’s shifting LPG supply routes Poland's LPG industry, which is almost entirely dependent on imports, faced huge challenges when flows from the east were disrupted. This accelerated diversification towards supply from northwest Europe via Poland's ports and saw seaborne imports hit an all-time high in 2022.
From Fossil Fuel to Renewable Sources: The Future of US Feedstocks April 2023. The US refining industry is increasing production of renewable fuels for the transportation sector. This means renewable feedstocks — whether crop-based or waste-based — have gained popularity in markets that were once reserved for petroleum products. Learn how market volatility, demand loss, and incentive programs have reshaped the transportation fuel market, and what the future may hold.
Key global thermal coal market trends in 2023 2022 was a tumultuous year for the thermal coal market, with seaborne prices hitting record highs and global trade flows being reshaped. 2023 has started off in an environment of falling prices and global benchmarks reconnecting. Here are some of the key market trends to watch in the coming months.
Summer 2023 Preview: European Natural Gas and Global LNG April 2023. Following a year of upheaval and extreme volatility in the global gas markets, prices are falling as the northern hemisphere’s winter draws to a close. Argus considers the outlook for the months ahead in its summer preview reports for the European gas market and for the global LNG market.
Argus Special Report: Ukraine Anniversary — Energy Politics In Flux March 2023. The issue of energy has been pivotal in the war in Ukraine, weaponised by both sides in the conflict with implications for the global energy industry that have been huge, complex and almost unfathomable. Decades-long energy trading relationships have been reconfigured, energy security needs reassessed, and energy transition strategies reconsidered. Our Special Report, which draws on recent coverage from our Petroleum Argus, Argus Eurasia Energy, Argus China Petroleum and Argus Gas Connections business intelligence reports, takes a high-level look at the grave impact the war has had on the global energy policy debate, and how it has altered the energy calculus for policymakers in Europe, the US, Russia, India and China. It also, crucially, looks ahead to ask where the conflict leaves efforts to tackle climate change, what it means for assumptions about a diminishing future role for oil and gas, and how politicians, investors and corporate strategists should respond to the altered energy landscape.
Argus Special Report: Ukraine Anniversary — Oil Markets Adapt March 2023. One year on, the war in Ukraine continues to play havoc with oil markets. The conflict has triggered an unprecedented degree of intervention by policymakers, as Kyiv’s Western allies have sought to retool sanctions policy to target price rather than supply, and to use strategic stocks to mitigate market disruption. Amid the wholesale rewiring of trade flows, Russia has been forced to find new customers, Europe has had to find new suppliers, and other market participants have had to consider whether the new oil market dynamic presents only risk, or perhaps opportunity. Our Special Report/White Paper, which draws on recent coverage from our Argus Global Markets business intelligence report, examines in-depth just how profoundly the war has changed global crude flows, Europe’s refined product trade, tanker markets, and Opec policymaking, and assesses where the next disruptions and flashpoints might emerge.
Argus Bakken crude coverage; transparency across the US Midcontinent March 2023. Bakken prices are great tools for market analysis because they reflect trends such as Canadian production flowing into the US midcontinent, the pull on Bakken barrels from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, waterborne demand from Europe and Asia, and the costs of rail and pipeline transportation across North America. This white paper looks at how Argus assesses Bakken prices and how the important Bakken markets continue to evolve.
Discontinuing the semi-soft met coal assessment: An opportunity to rethink indexation This paper makes the case for re-examining the current range of semi-soft coking coal price references in use and the need to coalesce price formation around the most liquid assessments.
