Metal Movers: China Flat Steel Outlook Shaped by Exports, Costs and Risk
In this episode, Argus senior analyst Annie Wang breaks down why Chinese flat steel and export prices surged in early May, citing post‑holiday restocking, production cuts, rising raw‑material costs (coke, iron ore, energy) and a weaker regional price gap. She explains how the new export‑licensing scheme initially slowed shipments but has now normalized, and how geopolitical tensions—especially the U.S.–Iran conflict—have driven up freight and insurance costs, inflating prices in Vietnam more than in China. Wang also details how higher slab prices are reshaping mill margins, prompting producers to shift output from hot‑rolled coil to semi‑finished slabs. Looking ahead, market participants are cautiously bearish, expecting demand to soften in the summer and raw‑material cost pressures to limit further price gains.
The Biofuels Report: Feedstock vs Fuel - Why UCO Isn’t Keeping Pace?
In this episode Anna Prokhorova talks with Arreski of Green Air about why used cooking oil (UCO) prices in Europe have stayed relatively flat despite geopolitical shocks that have driven up other energy markets. They explain that UCO behaves unlike...
Beef Markets Tick Higher as Cash Cattle Ignore Trade Turmoil | Beef Market Update
In this Beef Market Update, host Sean and guest Anne Wasco of Gateway Livestock Exchange discuss a surprisingly strong cash cattle market despite trade turbulence, noting U.S. and Canadian cash cattle prices rose $4‑$9 per head and fed cattle prices...
May 14 | Commodity Week
In this May 14 episode of Commodity Week, panelists Todd Gleason, Greg Johnson, Chip Nellinger, and Brian Stark dissected the latest USDA supply‑and‑demand report, noting a projected 3 million‑acre drop in corn planting and lower ending stocks that could tighten the...
Tuesday: Eyes on Australia Budget for Household Help
The episode covers three main topics: the upcoming Australian federal budget and its potential cost‑of‑living measures, rising oil prices after Donald Trump dismissed Iran’s peace‑talks offer, and a deep‑dive on how the Middle‑East conflict threatens aluminium supply, given the region’s...
Fertilizer Matters EP49: Middle East Conflict - The Potash Market Anomaly
In this episode, Argus senior editor Mike Nash talks with global potash editor Julia Campbell about how the Middle East conflict is affecting the potash market. While direct supply of MOP (mineral oil‑based potash) remains stable, higher oil and gas...
Global Commodities: An Inventory Detour
In this episode Greg Shearer and J.P. Morgan’s European natural‑gas analyst Otar Degboadzi discuss how inventory levels are shaping commodity markets. They note that U.S. gas storage is near full capacity (about 2.2 trillion cubic feet), while European gas inventories are...
Tightened Supply Chains: Strait of Hormuz & Bitumen Markets
In this episode of The Asphalt Story, Irina, Kayvan, and Oliver discuss how the Strait of Hormuz disruption is tightening bitumen supplies for European and African markets. They explain that reduced crude flows from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq are...
Global LPG Conversations: From Shock to Softness: Why the European Propane Market Eased
In this episode, Argus editors Peter Wilton and Efkaris Skourou examine why European propane prices have softened despite a global supply shock caused by the war in Ukraine. They explain that steady U.S. LPG imports into Northwest Europe, driven by...
Snorkelling for Negative Prices
The episode examines Norway’s unusually low hydro reservoir levels after a record‑cold winter and a severe precipitation deficit, which have turned the country from a net power exporter into an importer for the first time in years. Experts explain how...
Context Call: May 2026 (Video)
In this second Context Call, the host reviews the ongoing Hormuz Strait closure and its ripple effects on the global oil market, noting a recent flare‑up of violence but no immediate shift in supply fundamentals. Brent crude remains anchored around...
Tensions Rise in the Persian Gulf
The BBC World Business Report episode examines the escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf, focusing on the U.S. "Project Freedom" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting impact on global oil shipments. It features insights from U.S. officials,...
Interview with Turkiye's Diplomacy 05.05.2026
In this episode, host Uma speaks with financial consultant Laurent Lecon of The Macro Butler about the cascading economic fallout from the war disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Lecon warns that Asian oil reserves will only last...
Biomass Beat: Key Takeaways From the Argus Biomass Conference
The Argus Biomass Conference highlighted a surprisingly upbeat mood across the biomass supply chain, driven by record‑high European industrial pellet prices and strong demand ahead of the heating season. Participants discussed price spreads between Europe, Asia, and premium pellets, the...
Oil Prices on a Rollercoaster Ride
The episode examines the sudden volatility in oil prices, which spiked to a four‑year high of $126 per barrel before falling $10 within hours, driven by escalating US‑Iran tensions and concerns over Iran’s dwindling storage capacity. Investment strategist Emma Wall...