Argus Americas Asphalt Summit

This workshop will analyze the key components of Marpol VI regulations and their impact on refined products, particularly heavy products and asphalt. Learn about the different compliance scenarios, and what they mean for the asphalt market as 2020 nears.

- Crude and refinery basics
- Crude types and properties
- Refinery basics
- Refinery unit operations
- Changes in crude diets affecting asphalt quality and quantity

- Oil and refining market trends
- Prices
- Oil production
- US refined product demand and exports
- Current and forecast future trends
- Light and heavy spreads
- Asphalt prices

- Marpol VI
- Definitions and background
- Ship scrubbers
- Effects on the market and enforcement
- Bunker fuel blending and specifications
- Impact on coker yield and fuel oil blendstock values

Speakers
Ozzy Speranza, Senior Consultant, Argus Consulting Services
Stephen Jones, SVP Business Development, Argus

- Setting the stage for the paving seasons
- Marpol VI review
- Changes in crude diets affecting asphalt
- How asphalt’s value as a fuel blendstock will change as we get closer to January 2020
- Coker yield value reflecting diesel and gasoline fundamentals
- Product movement between Europe, the US, Canada and Latin America
- Forward curves market structure
- What to expect in 2019

Speaker
Ozzy Speranza, Senior Consultant, Argus Consulting Services

Moderator
John Demopoulos, VP North American Refined Products, Argus

- Asphalt quality, production and supply considerations from an end-user perspective
- Properties that affect asphalt quality
- Traditional and contemporary test methods
- What to expect with quality and supply from Marpol VI
- Terminal operations

- Canadian crude market dynamics and impact on bottom-of-the-barrel products
- Canadian crude supply and market access
- Supply and demand movements for bottom-of-the-barrel products related to shortages and oversupply
- Likely impact of the Marpol VI regulations on asphalt and other bottom-of-the-barrel products

Speakers
Bill Lee, Terminal Manager, Century Asphalt
Alex Ibanex, Consultant, Muse Stancil

Moderator
John Demopoulos, VP North American Refined Products, Argus

- Polymers on the market today
- How polymers and chemical additives impact durability
- Key differentiators regarding specifications

- Asphalt additives and environmental constraints
- Additives that help to reduce hydrogen sulfide from asphalt, and in turn reduce corrosion
- How this can achieve health, safety and environmental compliance

Speakers
Mo Rahman, Technical Marketing Manager, Ergon
Ross Poland, Technical Service Manager, Fuel Additives, Baker Hughes

Moderator
John Demopoulos, VP North American Refined Products, Argus

- Exposure to asphalt additives and impact on the market
- Failure scenarios attributed to the use of asphalt additives
- Metrics related to responsible party in incidents, and best practices for taking preventative measures

Speakers
Allen Smith, Managing Partner, Asphalt and Sourcing Alliance
Bill Lee, Terminal Manager, Century Asphalt
Jim Musselman, Asphalt Performance Manager, CRH Americas Materials

Moderator
Ozzy Speranza, Senior Consultant, Argus Consulting Services

- Domestic road building projects and funding considerations
- How varying climates can create problems for paving professionals and roadway users
- Case studies for laying pavement and ensuring maximum durability
- Challenges facing contractors in an uncertain market, and the necessity for stable prices

- Highway funding
- Legislation to re-authorize the Federal-aid Highway Program
- Policies impacting pavement-type selection and asphalt pavement design mix
- Issues impacting lawmakers and what that means for the asphalt industry and markets

Speakers
Jim Warren, Executive Director, Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida
Jay Hansen, President, National Asphalt Pavement Association

Moderator
Ozzy Speranza, Senior Consultant, Argus Consulting Services

- How Mediterranean refiners are positioned to supply the US market
- How freight rates will impact the bottom line of asphalt projects
- Global asphalt maritime fleet, capabilities and anticipated shifts in routes

Speaker
Abraham Garcia Prieto, Export Executive, Asphalt, Cepsa

Maria Ahmad, Editor, Argus Americas Asphalt, Argus

Session 5: Latin American asphalt markets 
- Mexico’s asphalt market under the new administration
- Mexico’s market dynamics under AMLO
- Impact of the energy reform on the asphalt industry
- Future asphalt demand from the region

- The growing Brazilian asphalt market
- Brazil’s procurement strategies
- Brazilian asphalt market dynamics and growth relative to GDP
- An outlook for projects and future financing

Speakers
Raymundo Benitez, President, Mexican Asphalt Association 
Flavio Vianna, General Manager, Bitunel Asfaltos 

Moderator
Maria Ahmad, Editor, Argus Americas Asphalt, Argus

- Rail rates in flux – What this means to asphalt and how to minimize exposure
- The driving force behind large increases in rail freight rates
- Being proactive in rail negotiations to better control costs
- What to include in an effective strategy for reducing rail expenses

Speakers
Jay Roman, President, Escalation Consultants

Moderator
Ozzy Speranza, Senior Consultant, Argus Consulting Services