Argus Bitumen & Roads Asia Conference

Welcome refreshments and registrations open

Closed doors discussion on the impact of the Middle East/West Asia conflict and wider geopolitical instability on Asia’s bitumen supply chain

Chairperson's opening remarks

Asia in focus: What changed in the last 6–12 months in Middle East and APAC and why it matters?

- How have shifts in regional supply and demand across key markets reshaped trade flows in the past year?
- Where are new pricing mechanisms and benchmarks emerging, and what do they mean for transparency, contract structures, and trading strategies?

Speaker:

Chloe Choo

Senior Reporter, Bitumen and Oil Products

Argus

Claire Ng

Senior Reporter

Argus

Sathya Narayanan

Associate Editor

Argus

India market: To what extent are domestic refiners able to meet demand, and how reliant is India on imports to bridge supply gaps?

- What are the drivers for bitumen growth in the Indian market?
- What is the outlook for road construction demand over the next 3–5 years, and how will project pipelines translate into bitumen consumption?
- How are pricing dynamics in India responding to global volatility, and what does this mean for contractors and procurement strategies?

Morning networking and refreshments break

Central Asia and Middle East role: How are geopolitics, arbitrage and trade flows reshaping Asia’s supply?

- Where are the key arbitrage opportunities emerging, and how are traders exploiting price dislocations between the Middle East, Central Asia, and Asian demand centres?
- How are sanctions, trade restrictions, and shifting alliances impacting supply reliability, payment structures, and trade routes?
- What role will Central Asia and the Middle East play in balancing Asia’s supply-demand gap as volatility persists, and how sustainable is this position long term?

Where is liquidity in SE Asia’s bitumen market today?

- Southeast Asia and re‑export dynamics
- China’s role in absorbing sanctioned heavy crude
- Who is still trading and who is sitting out?
- Indonesia infrastructure demand and import dynamics

Speakers Include:

Gede Wahyudi Mahendra Putra

Senior Account Manager Bitumen

PT Pertamina

Networking lunch

Crude oil and feedstock focus: How upstream shifts are reshaping bitumen supply?

- Heavy crude availability and refinery optimisation
- New entrants: What traders from LPG and oil products must learn fast?
- What upstream disruption means for downstream bitumen output?

Traders into shipping: A new venture

- Does owning logistics fundamentally change how traders approach arbitrage, pricing strategies, and market positioning?
- What are the real cost advantages of vertical integration into shipping, and where can traders gain the most control over freight exposure?
- How do case studies of traders entering shipping demonstrate success in reducing costs, improving margins, and securing supply reliability?

Evening networking and coffee break

Curate meetings and match making: Pre‑scheduled, short one‑to‑one meetings tailored to your trading, sourcing or partnership priorities — ensuring you meet the right people.

Construction: What mix designs and grades will dominate in Asia?

- Contractor priorities under tight budgets
- Conventional bitumen vs PMB under rising costs
- Quality, consistency and supply reliability
- What road authorities expect from suppliers in 2026

Closing Reflections: Key Takeaways from Day One

Sathya Narayanan

Associate Editor

Argus

Please join us for the evening drinks reception!🥂 ✨

Morning registration and networking breakfast

Setting the Stage: Day Two Kick-Off

Speaker:

Sathya Narayanan

Associate Editor

Argus

Interactive Q&A and Audience Polling: Anonymous check on the trajectory for the next 6-12 months

Anonymous, live market polling that captures what participants really think about risk, strategy, and the outlook — creating instant talking points and honest debate.

- “Do you feel more exposed to downside risk today than this time last year?”
- “If market conditions worsen, which would you cut first?”
- “Are you more cautious signing term deals for 2026 than you were for 2025?”
- "Is your Asia strategy too dependent on one country, would you prefer to expand?”
- “Is PMB being adopted because it’s technically superior, or because nothing else works at current prices?”
- “If margins remain thin, will you still be actively trading bitumen in 2027?”
- “What’s the one route you’re quietly avoiding?”

Argus Consulting overview:

Morning networking and refreshments break

Shipping and freight market workshop session:

- How can bitumen buyers and traders optimise freight procurement strategies to manage rising tanker rates and reduce overall logistics costs?
- What are the key risks to supply reliability across Asian trade routes, and how can companies build more resilient shipping strategies?
- How will shifting regional trade flows and vessel availability impact freight pricing, and where are the biggest arbitrage opportunities emerging?

Regional roulette networking:

Format
Structured networking rounds (10–12 minutes each)
Each round focuses on one region
Bell rings → rotate

Regions:
China & re‑exports, Southeast Asia demand, Malaysia, Central Asia routes, Middle East supply reality, Africa as a demand outlet, Australia and New Zealand

Rules
One question per table, e.g. “What’s the one thing people misunderstand about this region?”

Chairperson's closing remarks and day two concludes

Networking lunch