Argus Media

The phosphate rock market has seen structural changes in Egypt, changes in Indian market dynamics and intriguing developments around projects in Israel, Australasia and China. How have these and other factors influenced our view of the phosphate rock market?

Join Claira Lloyd - Phosphate and Phosphate Rock Research Manager, Harry Minihan - Editor, Argus Phosphates, Claudia Wlk – Deputy Editor, Argus Phosphates and Tim Cheyne - VP, Fertilizers as they start with a look at structural changes in the Egyptian market and the timely addition of two new Argus phosphate rock export price assessments from Egypt and a new import price into South East Asia. We then assess developments in the Indian phosphate rock market, looking at pricing, demand side concerns, production levels and Indian buyers moving to source phosphate rock from Algeria, Syria, Senegal and Jordan. We review demand levels in South East Asia, liquidity issues, price increases and the factors influencing these market dynamics. We then pivot to the medium term view, analysing the intriguing situation in Israel where an ICL mine closure and significant ramp of production in two other mines could lead to Israel to becoming a net importer of phosphate rock by 2026. We then move to a short review of projects in USA, New Zealand and French Polynesia. We review the Yangtze river protection law impact on the phosphate rock market supply outlook. We finish with how we see phosphate rock prices developing in the mid to long term.

We welcome a special guest from Vortexa in this next instalment of the Weight of Freight podcast series.

Recent history says that high price of oil usually spells trouble for tanker freight. Will this be different in 2021 where shipowners place hopes on rising post-pandemic demand and anticipated boost in oil production.  

In this episode of Weight of Freight, Arthur Richier, Senior Freight Analyst at Vortexa joins Argus’ Head of Freight Alex Younevitch to explore if tanker freight could benefit from recovering crude prices and extra OPEC barrels, connection between marine fuels and fleet utilization and other topics. 

The staple crude oil price benchmark Dated Brent needs reinforcements, but how should the North Sea maintain its status in the global oil markets?

In a recent informal poll run by Argus, voters were asked how the Brent basket should be bolstered – by adding US crude or new Norwegian grade Johan Sverdrup. In this episode of The Crude Report we take a look at how voters responded.

How did the US butadiene market become the global price leader and how long will this trend continue?

In a twist, US butadiene (BD) prices are the highest globally because of ongoing supply constraints, planned and unplanned cracker maintenance globally and strong demand. Typically the world market looks to Asia for price direction. But North America has yet to fully recover from a mid-February winter storm that unexpectedly shut US Gulf coast BD production for several weeks. As such, the US has purchased spot volumes primarily from Europe but also Asia-Pacific. This, in turn, has supported higher prices in other regions. 

In this episode of Chemical Conversations, Ron Baughman and Angie Joe walk listeners through the developments leading up to current conditions and take a peak to see what lies ahead.

Related Links

• Argus Butadiene

In this episode of The Crude Report, Alejandro Barbajosa, VP Business Development and Karl Kleemeier, Head Oil in Asia, take a closer look at how the contract is faring. We aim to provide answers as to how fast Murban may evolve from a fledgling price reference to a maturing crude benchmark in the Middle East, looking at liquidity, market depth and levels of participation relative to expectations.

This second episode in a new mini-series will discuss the expanding cap-and-trade programs across the US.

Over the coming weeks we will be discussing growth in the US environmental markets including the new NOx allowance program, expansion of cap-and-trade programs, expansion of LCFS programs, and an update on renewable energy certificates. In this second episode, Michael Ball and Julia Martinez break down the new cap-and-trade programs coming online in Washington State, Oregon and the east coast. They will also provide a view into changes to come for the cap-and-trade program in California.

More than one year after the Nymex Cushing benchmark sank below zero for the first time ever, crude oil demand remains weak as a poor arbitrage from the Permian basin limits sell-side opportunities. Permian spot trade liquidity at the US Gulf coast has shifted toward refinery supply rather than exports, ultimately deteriorating the pipeline arbitrage and weighing on spot trade liquidity as speculative buying dies out.

In this episode of The Crude Report, Argus Americas Crude Associate Editor Amanda Hilow and Deputy Editor Amanda Smith, discuss the Midland-to-Houston spread, key elements weighing on market opportunities and expectations going forward.

Related links

• Argus WTI Houston price assessment

O Brasil enfrenta historicamente um déficit de armazenagem de grãos, o que eleva bastante os custos ao longo da cadeia produtiva. Junte-se a Camila Dias, chefe de redação da Argus no Brasil, e João Petrini, repórter da publicação Argus Brasil Grãos e Fertilizantes. Eles conversam sobre as perspectivas para esse segmento e as alternativas para reduzir o gargalo no armazenamento da produção de grãos no país. 

• Podcast Falando de Mercado

Join David Riley - Lead Potash Analyst, Ewan Thomson - Editor, Potash and Tim Cheyne - VP, Fertilizers as they begin with a discussion of possible European and US sanctions on Belarus and the potential impact on the Belarussian potash industry - particularly export routes, production output and investment levels.

This first episode in a new mini-series will take a deep dive into the NOx market and changes coming this summer. 

Over the coming weeks we will be discussing growth in the US environmental markets including the new NOx allowance program, expansion of cap-and-trade programs, expansion of LCFS programs, and an update on renewable energy certificates. In this first episode, Jessica Dell and Michael Ball break down the new NOx allowance program including market trends, pricing and more. 

Related Links

• Learn more about the Argus seasonal NOx allowance price assessments