Welcome to this Methanol Market Puts-and-Takes podcast episode, part of the Chemical Conversations series.

In this episode, Senior Analyst Cassidy Staggers speaks with Alex Dӧll, the newly appointed CEO of the Methanol Institute, to discuss:

• Alex Dӧll’s background and strategic vision for the Methanol Institute and its global initiatives

• Key takeaways from the Argus Methanol Forum

• Updates and trends in the gray methanol market

• Methanol's advancement in marine fuels, plastics, and SAF striving toward sustainability and decarbonization

Argus offers methanol prices, news, analysis, forecasts, and consulting. Get more information and request a free trial.

In the lead-up to K, the world’s largest plastics and rubber event, our limited podcast series, ‘K-show plastics preview’, features Argus experts discussing the latest market developments across key polymer and feedstock sectors. From pricing trends and policy shifts to regional supply dynamics, the series offers timely insights to help industry participants stay informed and ahead of the curve.

In this episode, James Elliott, VP of Business Development, is joined by Sam Hashmi, Global Editor Polymers, for an in-depth discussion on the evolving US–Europe polyolefins trade relationship and the impact of tariffs on the European market.

Key topics discussed:

• What the latest import duty proposals could mean for market confidence and pricing.

• Why European producers are watching US polyethylene imports, and what’s next for polypropylene.

• Outlook for demand as the industry heads into K-Show and beyond.

The podcast discusses the launch and market reception of the new Norwegian crude grade, Johan Karsberg, highlighting its unique production setup, high-quality characteristics, and pricing dynamics. Despite logistical challenges and premium pricing, the grade is gaining traction among Northwest European refiners due to its favorable refining properties.

Three main topics:

• Introduction and significance of Johan Karsberg crude: A rare standalone field in the Barents Sea, marking a notable expansion in Norway’s oil production.
• Crude quality and market reception: Karsberg is slightly heavier but low in sulphur, with high yields of valuable distillates, making it attractive to European refiners.
• Trading logistics and pricing: The grade trades at a premium and is limited to local markets due to shuttle tanker constraints and higher transport costs.

In this episode, Argus’ Waldemar Jaszczyk discusses the future of clean cooking access in Africa with Daniel Wetzel, the head of the Tracking Sustainable Transitions Unit at the International Energy Agency. Daniel joins to take stock of the progress achieved since last year's summit on the issue, during which $2.2bn in public and private funding was pledged until 2030. Building on recent success, Daniel outlines the IEA’s newly released roadmap for all African countries to reach universal access to clean cooking by 2040, describing LPG as the “workhorse” of the move away from harmful traditional cooking fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene.

In the lead-up to K, the world’s largest plastics and rubber event, our limited podcast series, ‘K-show plastics preview’, features Argus experts discussing the latest market developments across key polymer and feedstock sectors. From pricing trends and policy shifts to regional supply dynamics, the series offers timely insights to help industry participants stay informed and ahead of the curve.

This week, we turn to Southeast Asia’s polymer markets, with Yee Ying Ang, Senior Reporter for Polymers, and Timo Tumuscheit, VP Business Development for Chemicals in Asia, joining James Elliott to unpack the region’s pricing dynamics and Argus’ methodology.

Key topics discussed:

• How seasonal shifts and trade policy are influencing polymer demand across Southeast Asia’s key markets.

• How Argus assesses polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) prices in Southeast Asia, including how spot market activity and market sentiment are captured.

• The role of transparency and multi-source verification in building market confidence.

Gus Vasquez, Editorial manager, is joined on the podcast by, Giovann Rosales, Associate editor for LPG, to break down how China’s tariffs reshaped global LPG flows and reshuffled cargoes across Asia. She also explores Argentina’s growing role as a regional supplier, driven by rising output from Vaca Muerta and new infrastructure. And lastly, they touch on how pricing strategies are evolving as traders benchmark against global netbacks to stay competitive.

El mercado global de gas licuado de petróleo se está reorganizando ante las tensiones comerciales que han impactado los flujos de GLP exportado desde Estados Unidos hacia los principales centros de consumo en Asia. En América Latina, varios países están desarrollando proyectos de infraestructura, y Argentina podría convertirse en un proveedor importante de gas gracias al yacimiento de Vaca Muerta. Conozca más escuchando Gustavo Vásquez, gerente editorial de Crudo y GLP para las Américas en Argus, y Giovann Rosales, editora asociada de GLP de las Américas en Argus.