Argus Global Base Oils Conference

Returning by popular demand, join Argus for a morning 5k fun run around the scenic Hyde Park and get those endorphins flowing. Join industry peers with a likeminded approach to fitness for an exciting informal networking opportunity away from the boardroom. NEW FOR 2025 – the fun run will have multiple pace groups ensuring beginners through to 5k pros can enjoy an active start to the morning.

• 2024 saw leadership elections in several key countries across the globe - how has this affected economic and energy policy across the globe? • How are global inflation rates faring and how is this affecting global energy trade? • Looking to 2026 and beyond, what can we expect from the global energy markets?

• What is the big picture outlook for global base oils and lubricants trade?    • What will be the key trends to watch in 2026 and beyond? Discussing the impact of a larger electric vehicle fleet, diversification of outlets and production strategies, rising populations, rising industrial action across the globe and more. • What can the market expect in terms of supply, demand, and pricing in 2026 and beyond?

Open to all delegates, join us in the main conference room for refreshments and to have an open discussion with leading women in the industry regarding their personal experiences of growth and challenges they have overcome. This is a perfect opportunity for women in the base oils and lubricants industry to meet and network, and for all delegates to better understand how to promote diversity and inclusion in their industry.

• What are the historic trends of UK engine oil and hydraulic fluid imports that have inspire the anti-dumping investigation application? • What does the TRA’s investigation include and how will they decide if a trade remedy is necessary? • How is the European market responding to and recovering from this? What lessons can we learn for the future and how could this apply to other regions?

• What are the new dynamics market participants should be aware of and how have they developed since 2024? • What is driving regional price across EMEA and how is this impacting the wider global trade? • How is the region developing in its relationship with supply and demand for Grp I, II, and III?

• How do OEMs and the lubricant production value chain work together to develop engine oils? • How does the industry work with OEMs to design products that meet industry standards alongside individual OEM approval tests? • What value do the latest heavy-duty lubricants bring to the end user?

• What is the current global fleet landscape for ships – what engines are they running on, where are they located, how long is their lifespan? What does this mean for the future of fuel choices and engine orders – how will this affect the marine lubricant industry in the future? • How does the diversifying fuel matrix – moving away from VLSFO (very low sulphur fuel oil) toward alternative such as biodiesel, ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen – affect the development of marine lubricants? • What new engines are being built for ships and what are their fuel sources - when can we expect these ships to hit the seas?

• As the global electric vehicle fleet grows, the technology within these engines – and their end-use industry – continues to advance and diversify. How does this effect the development of electric driveline fluids and does this differ between automotive, industrial and commercial applications? • How does formulation and testing capabilities differ for electrified driveline fluids compare to traditional lubricants for ICE engines? • What are some of the challenges associated with ensuring lubricants keep up with a rapidly changing and developing industry on the route to decarbonisation?

• How have supply and demand fundamentals changed in Asia? Considering Grp I, II, III and RRBOs across the region. • How is shortness of supply, particularly for Grp I across Asia, impacting buying patterns – are we seeing diversification of supply sources? • How will regional arbitrages change with these developments and what opportunities do they present?

• How is the European passenger vehicle parc evolving? • What are some of the key differences we see between different OEM specifications and why are they different? • Why is misapplication or the use of unverified lubricants a risk to the value chain?

• What opportunities are available to the base oils producers in today’s changing market, and what are the macro-trends driving the industry? • What has the industry learned from recent year’s turbulent geopolitical and macroeconomic trade environments and how can this be utilised to form a more secure industry in the future? • What sustainability and decarbonisation strategies are we seeing implemented across the globe – is it more important to follow national policy, industry association guidelines, or to pursue individual company goals?

• RRBOs have been a hot topic for the last few years – but what does the current landscape for the effective collection and recycling of used oil look like? • Where are key re-refining hubs located and what is their current capacity? What plans are we aware of for new plants and new expansions across the globe? • What is needed to push RRBO technology further outside of Europe and the Americas – is it private investment, government policy, or something else entirely?

• How are Grp II and Grp III spreads affecting base oils production across the US? With domestic Grp III production on the rise, what can we tell about the future of production including any potential switches back to Grp II? • What is the US’ new Grp II export strategy considering Asian expansions in Grp II production which will increase that regions self-sufficiency in production? • How is the demand for synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants for engines currently being built in the US affecting the inventory and production strategies of base oil producers across the US?

• How are representatives from across the value chain planning ahead – what impact will growing e-mobility fleets, fuels such as hydrogen for on-road vehicles, and growing sustainability targets have on the industry? • What new opportunities lie ahead across the industrial, automotive, and marine lubricant industries? Are there any potential bottlenecks the industry needs to overcome beforehand?

• What are the unique challenges of gas engines and what impact does this have on the formulation of industrial lubricants? • What needs to be considered for GEO production considering that many gas engines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and often in harsh or unpredictable conditions? • Considering the constant use of these industrial engines, why is it so important to decarbonise GEOs and what are the current developments being made?

• What updates have been made to the ACEA oil sequences and what do they mean for the lubricants and base oils industry? • How are they interlinked with wider EU emission regulations? • What future policy can we expect that will continue to drive technological advancement in the base oils and lubricants sector?