Argus Base Oils Conference Asia, Middle East & Africa

Morning registration and networking breakfast

Conference welcome

Speaker:

Emily Harris

Conference Producer

Argus

Chairperson's opening remarks

Speaker:

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

Keynote panel: The bright future for base oils and lubricants in Asia and the Middle East

• How is the base stock production landscape evolving? What impact is diversified production capacity and sustainable technology having on this key production region?
• How is an established Asian and Middle Eastern market preparing to face new challenges such as export opportunities in Africa, regional supply shifts due to changing crude slates, new builds and regular maintenance?
• How are blenders and producers ensuring they are meeting growing climate targets whilst maintaining the quality and performance in their products?

Argus presents: Evolving production dynamics – opportunities from shifting fundamentals in Asia and the Middle East

• How is rising GII and GIII capacity in Asia impacting the supply and demand map of this region and what affects is it having on pricing?
• What are the key countries to pay attention to within Asia such as India and China and why are they so influential?
• How is the re-refined base oils market developing in Asia?

Morning networking and refreshments break

Greases at a turning point: What’s driving the change in lithium-free greases – OEMs, environmental policy or end-use applications?

• What policy is driving the grease industry to reconsider its thickeners? Reclassification of lithium as a harmful chemical in Europe and its ripple effects in global policy including in grease hotspots such as South Asia, Africa and the Middle East
• What are the emerging and leading alternatives to lithium-hydroxide based greases? Considering polyurea (PU) greases, anhydrous calcium and other lithium-free thickening agents
• How do grease fundamentals vary across applications such as bearings, electric motors, data centres, and ICE engines. Will this impact the choice of lithium-alternative by application?

Speed networking session

Bring your business cards and maximise the efficiency of you networking with this dedicated and structured time to meet your fellow delegates

All persons will be given a few minutes to interact, network and exchange business cards with other participants.

At the end of each round, a bell will ring and an announcement made that all participants will move on.

Full details will be released closer to the event.

Lunch break

Driving the industry forward: A conversation with leading automotive, marine and industrial engine manufacturers

• What are the latest developments in engine manufacturing technology across the automotive, marine and industrial sectors?
• How will these engine developments affect the finished lubricant and additive packages necessary for future engines?
• What fuels matrix is being considered by each industry sector for the future, including biofuels, ammonia, methanol, hydrogen, electrification and more.

AMEA’s lubricants trading must-know: Why updates to the European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System (EELQMS) are important for the future of Asian and Middle Eastern engine oil production and trade

• Why is it so valuable for engine oils to maintain ACEA approvals and compliance, and how does ATIEL ensure compliance against the ACEA engine oil sequences?
• What obligations do lubricant marketers who make ACEA claims have regarding registration in the EELQMS Letter of Conformance Scheme?
• What are the latest updates to the global compliance survey, the new ATIEL Code of Practice, and how do these impact Asia and the Middle East’s lubricants industry?

Afternoon networking and refreshments break

Gaining market share: How are RRBOs (re-refined base oils) strengthening their market position across Asia and the Middle East?

• With a strong foothold in Europe and North America, RRBOs are gaining in popularity as companies seek to hit climate targets. How are we seeing the development of RRBO capacity in Asia and the Middle East pan out and what increase can we expect in the future?
• Sustainability policy has been clear in setting goals for RRBO usage in the future across Asia, such as India’s April 2024 mandate targeting the recycling of oil and lubricants sold, with the aim to increase from 5% to 40% by 2028. What further legislation or other incentives can we expect in the future?
• Is there sufficient waste oil collection infrastructure in Asia and the Middle East for this industry to thrive? What are the potential bottlenecks?

Navigating the turbulent waters of a changing global freight industry

• To what extent are global trade disruptions such as conflict in Europe, disruptions in the Suez and Panama Canals, and the Red Sea affecting freight routes across the globe?
• How are schedulers in the base oils and lubricants industry balancing higher freight costs, lesser vessel availability and longer voyage timing with providing reliable volumes to their customers?
• What is the big picture future for the recovery and stabilisation of freight across the AMEA region and worldwide?

Chairperson's closing remarks and day one concludes

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

Day one networking reception

Morning networking and breakfast

Chairperson's opening remarks

Speakers Include:

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

Keynote panel: The growth of Chinese base oil industries and new opportunities in the international markets

• What is the scale of new capacity coming online in China? Will China become a net exporter? Will this change the region’s trade dynamics?
• How are key companies including base oil producers, lubricant blenders and additive companies planning to expand into international markets?
• What does the future hold for Chinese market developments?

Argus presents: The base oils outlook for Asia and the Middle East

• What can we expect from 2025 and beyond in terms of supply and demand fundamentals, pricing implications, and the development of intra-regional trade flows?
• What is the big picture for Asian and Middle Eastern base oil trade considering the changing refinery landscape, global economic recessions and sustainability pressures?
• How do new markets such as re-refined base oils (RRBOs), demand from Africa and more fit into the mid- to long-term development of Asian and Middle Eastern base oil industries?

Morning networking and refreshments break

African market focus: Strategies for success in a challenging trade environment

• What does the trading landscape in Africa look like and how does this vary from East, North, West, Southern and Central Africa?
• Where are the key demand hubs across this continent and where are they sourcing base oils and lubricants from?
• What affects the ease of trade in this region – considering climate, infrastructure and geopolitics – and how can companies mitigate these risks to successfully trade in Africa?

How are developing markets in Asia impacting the wider AMEA base oils and lubricants market?

• What countries in Asia are emerging as key grease, lubricant and base oil trade hubs and how are these markets structured? Looking to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and more
• How much has demand for base oils and lubricants in these key countries increased in the last few years and what can we expect from the future?
• What can we expect in the future from these key countries?

Chairperson's closing remarks

Speaker:

Guo Harn Hong

Global Lead Base Oils

Argus

Conference concludes and networking lunch, continue private meetings