Agenda 2025
24 September 2025
Networking drinks reception
- 17:00 - 19:00
Welcome to the Argus Global Coke and Carbon drinks reception
Location to be announced.Open to all registered delegates, join your peers at the welcome drinks and begin the 2025 Argus Global Coke and Carbon Conference.
25 September 2025
Morning registration and networking breakfast
- 08:00
Registration and breakfast
Main conference begins
- 09:00 - 09:05
Conference producer's opening remarks
Speaker:
Emily Harris
Conference ProducerArgus- 09:05 - 09:10
Chairperson's opening remarks
Speaker:
Lauren Masterson
Editor – Energy Argus Petroleum CokeArgus- 09:10 - 09:40
Keynote presentation: Making sense of global trade policy
- Looking to recent policy changes and the new US administration, what are the key US trade policies affecting global commodity markets – considering tariffs, trade agreements, and export-import strategies.
- What ripple effects on international trade do US trade policies have? What has been their impact on oil markets in 2025 and what can we expect from the near future?
- What potential shifts in US trade policy can we expect, and how could these continue impacting global commodity markets?
- 09:40 - 10:10
Argus presents: What is driving the global coke and carbon markets?
- What are the main factors dictating the global coke markets and why are they so influential?
- How does the market continue to be split between anode and fuel grade coke?
- How have tariffs affected the global fuel and anode grade markets?
Speakers:
Lauren Masterson
Editor – Energy Argus Petroleum CokeArgusHadley Medlock
ReporterArgus
Morning networking break
- 10:10 - 10:55
Morning networking break
Conference resumes
- 10:55 - 11:25
Understanding the European refining industry’s uncertain future
- How are growing regulatory pressures in Europe to reduce emissions and promote renewable energy impacting the demand for traditional refined products such as oil and petroleum coke?
- What unique economic and geopolitical challenges does the European refining industry face?
- What opportunities are there for the European petroleum coke industry still in emerging markets such as carbon anodes, feedstocks for advanced materials and other alternative uses for coke?
- 11:25 - 12:00
A global perspective: Coke and carbon market trends in Asia, the Americas and Europe
- What are the regional market trends and drivers for the production, consumption, end-use and regulatory development for fuel and anode-grade coke?
- What impact are economic and environmental policies having on the production and consumption of coke across the world?
- What new opportunities are there for coke and carbon producers to get excited about in the future? How are markets such as steel, aluminum, and batteries developing?
Lunch break
- 12:00 - 13:30
Networking lunch break
Feedstock focus
- 13:30 - 14:00
How is the relationship between coke and coal evolving?
- What's driving supply and demand in the coal markets?
- How do coal and coke compare in terms of competitiveness as a feedstock? Considering tariffs, sulphur emissions, sanctions, availability and pricing.
- How does feedstock competition vary globally?
Speaker:
Ajay Modi
Associate Editor - Solid FuelsArgus- 14:00 - 14:30
Natural gas – The feedstock to watch for the cement industry?
- Natural gas can be used as a feedstock for clinker production in cement manufacturing – a role normally designated for fuel-grade coke. Where are we seeing the use of natural gas in cement manufacturing?
- What are the benefits of switching to natural gas? How does this set you up for an easier future considering decarbonisation pressures and the option to swap to RNG in the future?
- What are the logistical challenges of swapping to natural gas – including the installation of pipelines – and what is the trade off between these and using coke?
Afternoon networking break
- 14:30 - 15:15
Afternoon coffee and networking break
Main conference resumes
- 15:00 - 15:30
A crucial step in the value chain: How do testing and inspection services provide security for coke and carbon shipments and their parties?
- How do testing and inspection companies guarantee their quality analysis – what are the latest methodology advancements and why are they so useful?
- Coke is sold and received as a bulk commodity - meaning there is great importance in ensuring the accuracy of volume and tonnage measurements for shipments. What technology is used to measure volumes and ensure the most precise tonnage, ensuring no waste on freight spending?
- What impact on the rest of the supply chain – including waste, compliant storage, efficient transportation and more – does the testing and inspection industry have?
- 15:30 - 16:15
The weight of freight – How can the global dry bulk industry best manage risk?
- What types of bulk carriers are we seeing transporting petroleum coke across the globe? How is inland transportation evolving for the dry bulk markets?
- How are rapidly changing US tariffs on transportation industries affecting the dry bulk freight market - considering Chinese built ships, import taxes, free trade agreements and more.
- 2025 has seen union labour disputes, flooding, low water levels, tariffs, marine decarbonisation policy and much more – how is the drybulk logistics network working to manage these risks?
- 16:15 - 17:00
Building sustainable supply chains in the global cement industry
- What is the global cement and clinker supply and demand outlook
- How are cement manufacturers continuing to consider alternative fuels? What are the main incentives to do so – regulatory, financial, tariffs or something else entirely?
- How are we seeing global demand and competition for cement and clinker evolve considering policy and trade tariffs?
Conference day one concludes
- 17:00
Chairperson's closing remarks
Speakers Include:
Lauren Masterson
Editor – Energy Argus Petroleum CokeArgus- 17:00 - 19:00
Networking drinks reception
26 September 2025
Morning registration and networking breakfast
- 08:00 - 09:00
Morning networking and breakfast
- 09:00 - 09:05
Chairperson's opening remarks
Speaker:
Lauren Masterson
Editor – Energy Argus Petroleum CokeArgus
Main conference begins
- 09:05 - 09:35
Argus presents: The global petroleum coke and coal outlook for 2026 and beyond
- What is the big picture outlook for global petroleum coke trade?
- What will be the key trends to watch in 2026 and beyond? Including competitor feedstocks, refinery maintenance, global policy and trade tariffs.
- How are market fundamentals such as supply, pricing, demand, and global trade routes expected to evolve in 2026 and beyond?
- 09:35 - 10:05
Finding a place for carbon in the growing battery and EV supply chain
- How is carbon utilised in the battery industry?
- How can the carbon industry get contribute to the development of lithium and sodium-ion batteries for EVs and make the most of this new opportunity?
Morning networking break
- 10:05 - 10:35
Morning coffee and networking break
Metals markets and coal tar pitch
- 10:35 - 11:05
The special ingredient for aluminum and steel production: Why is coal tar pitch so invaluable?
- Coal tar pitch (CTP) is a coal tar derivative which is mainly utilised as a binding material to produce carbon anodes in the aluminum smelting process, and is also vital for the graphite electrodes in electric arc furnaces used in steel production.
- What are the key differences between different pitches such as coal tar, petroleum pitch, refined and specialty pitches?
- What opportunities exist in the coal tar pitch market which is predicted to grow year on year well into the next decade?
- 11:05 - 11:55
Heavy industries in a decarbonising world: How are steel and aluminum companies prioritising reducing emissions whilst increasing product efficiency?
- What role does coke play as a feedstock in the metals industry? What might the future hold for feedstocks in this industry?
- How are aluminum and steel producers tackling sustainability targets – considering recycling material, feedstocks, carbon capture, new technologies and more.
- What does the future hold for the primary steel and aluminum markets across the globe?
Conference concludes
- 11:55 - 12:00
Chairperson's closing remarks
Speaker:
Lauren Masterson
Editor – Energy Argus Petroleum CokeArgus- 12:00
Conference concludes and grab and go lunch
Thank you for attending the Argus Global Coke and Carbon Conference 2025!