Argus Media

In this episode, Argus explores the disconnect between an unprecedented outlook for aerospace and defence markets and a partially stunted titanium market. Airbus and Boeing’s combined commercial backlog exceeds 16,000 aircraft, while global geopolitical instability is fuelling historic defence spending and procurement. Yet titanium inventories remain elevated across several market segments, manufacturers and suppliers continue to debate when build rate ramps will translate into sustained titanium orders, while questions around forging and casting capacity and competing end-markets remain open.

Welcome to Episode 25 of the Methanol Market Puts-and-Takes podcast, part of the Chemical Conversations series.

In this episode, Senior Analyst Cassidy Staggers talks with Dave McCaskill, Argus VP of Methanol and Derivatives on:

Argus offers methanol prices, news, analysis, forecasts, and consulting. Get more information and request a free trial. 

Politics, Freight and the Price of Oil

As political uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics continue to influence global oil markets, separating meaningful market signals from headline noise is becoming increasingly important.

In this episode Argus experts examine the political, economic and market developments shaping crude oil prices, trade flows and supply expectations. From election outcomes and policy decisions to freight market movements and regional conflicts, they explore how these factors are influencing market sentiment and what they could mean for the months ahead.

Listen to discover:

The relationship between physical crude markets and futures pricing

How tanker freight costs are affecting global trade flows

The impact of geopolitical developments on oil supply and market confidence

What political changes could mean for energy markets and trade policy

The key risks, opportunities and market signals participants should be monitoring

Gain expert insight into the forces shaping today's oil market and the trends likely to influence trading decisions, risk management and market strategy in the coming months.

Hear Argus’ concise analysis of Kenya’s fertilizer market, covering how it functions as a subsidised fertilizer market, the market reaction to the subsidy scheme, the usage of NPKs, the impact of affordability, acreage, soil acidity and a focus on Kenya’s tea sector.

Exploring the global bitumen trends in 2026, with a closer look at how disruption to Middle Eastern oil supplies has exposed the Asia’s reliance on refinery operations and reshaped the region’s bitumen outlook.

The global bitumen market has shifted from concerns over demand to the resilience of supply. Asia's limited access to preferred bituminous crude, lower refinery throughput and stronger returns from transport fuels have constrained production and pushed seaborne prices to record highs.

Drawing on the latest Argus Bitumen Analytics, Oliver Thompson (Global Lead, Argus Bitumen Analytics), Swasti Dharmadhikari (Lead Bitumen Analyst, Asia) and Sathya Narayanan (Associate Editor, Argus Bitumen) examine how these pressures are changing regional trade and what could support a recovery from 2027.

Listen to discover:

What is driving the loss in global bitumen production, forecast at only 117mn t despite having 185mn t/yr of installed capacity

How crude constraints pushed Asian seaborne prices to record highs

Why Middle East-India freight costs have risen from below $100/t to more than $300/t

How China’s recovery and India’s demand growth will shape Asia’s outlook through 2030

Argus Bitumen Analytics combines forward-looking global and regional analysis with country-level supply and demand balances covering more than 100 countries. Explore the latest report for deeper insight into the refinery economics, production trends and changing trade flows shaping bitumen markets through 2030.

Usinas de biodiesel e etanol no Brasil estão de olho no que pode ser uma solução para o superávit da produção: o mercado global de combustíveis marítimos. Conforme as discussões sobre combustíveis alternativos se intensificam no exterior, o governo brasileiro se movimenta para atender aos padrões internacionais e desenvolver o mercado doméstico de biobunker. Neste episódio do Falando de Mercado, Natália Coelho e Gabriel Tassi Lara, responsáveis por precificação de combustíveis marítimos da Argus, falam sobre as expectativas dos participantes desse mercado antes da reunião da Organização Marítima Internacional no final do ano.

Os tópicos discutidos neste episódio incluem: 

Projeto de Lei para criação da política nacional de combustíveis sustentáveis de navegação e consulta pública da ANP

Alinhamento com a Organização Marítima Internacional

Potencial do etanol de milho de segunda safra

Enquadramento na FuelEU

Expectativas para reunião da IMO

Biodiesel and ethanol producers in Brazil are looking at what could become a solution to their production surplus: the global marine fuels market. As discussions around alternative fuels gain momentum abroad, the Brazilian government is taking steps to align with international standards and develop the domestic bio-bunker market. In this episode of Market Talks, marine fuels pricing specialists Natália Coelho and Gabriel Tassi Lara discuss market participants’ expectations ahead of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting at the end of the year.

Key themes:

Proposed legislation to establish Brazil’s National Sustainable Marine Fuels Policy and ANP’s public consultation process

Alignment with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations

The potential of second-crop corn ethanol

Compliance with FuelEU requirements

Expectations for the upcoming IMO meeting

In this week's Strait Talk, Argus experts examine the intersection of politics, sanctions, shipping and oil flows as the US midterm elections approach and geopolitical tensions continue to shape market sentiment.

Physical vs futures pricing: Rising Middle East spot sales have narrowed Brent futures' discount to North Sea Dated, while producers take on more Hormuz transit and insurance risk as export flows recover.

Os recursos de hidrogênio presentes no subsolo podem oferecer uma forma completamente diferente de produzir hidrogênio de baixo carbono. Investidores estão apostando nessa tecnologia, governos estão concedendo licenças de exploração e acordos comerciais já estão sendo firmados. Mas, apesar do entusiasmo, ainda existem grandes incertezas em relação a aspectos científicos e comerciais. Acompanhe a conversa entre Camila Fontana, chefe-adjunta da redação da Argus em São Paulo, e Pamela Machado, colaboradora do relatório Hydrogen and Future Fuels no escritório da Argus em Paris.

Os tópicos discutidos neste episódio incluem:

Potenciais vantagens do hidrogênio geológico 

Projetos de exploração já anunciados em vários continentes

Potencial de produção em escala comercial

Ressalvas e particularidades do hidrogênio como energia

Presença de gás hélio em reservatórios 

Descobertas na América Latina