Why US butane is in high demand across Asia and what growing export volumes mean for prices, trade flows and infrastructure plans.

The war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz blockade have shaken LPG trade flows, sending delivered butane prices in Asia to multi-year highs and leaving buyers racing to secure alternative supply. US producers and exporters are stepping in fast—but can export capacity and logistics keep up with this unprecedented demand?

Host Anu Agarwal (Vice President, Business Development, Argus Oil in Asia) is joined by Amy Strahan (Editor, LPG North America) to examine how Gulf Coast terminals and Mont Belvieu storage are operating at full capacity to keep cargoes moving, and why looming bottlenecks could reshape prices and trade flows in the months ahead.

In this episode of Chemical Conversations, Argus’ James Elliott speaks with global polyurethanes editor Laura Tovey-Fall and US polyurethanes reporter Catherine Rabe to discuss the latest developments and what they could mean for the market in the months ahead.

Ahead of Europur’s annual conference on 9 - 11 June 2026, the team discuss:

• What is the latest in terms of the European isocyanate supply and demand balance?
• How are the new MDI and TDI trade flows between Europe and the US driving market change?
• What is the global isocyanates outlook for the second half of 2026?

Laura Tovey-Fall will be presenting on 'The Flexible PU Foam Market Outlook: Upstream & Downstream' at Europur's conference on Wednesday 10th June 2026. Click here (chemicals@argusmedia.com) to request a meeting or find out more about Argus Isocyanates.

In this special edition episode, we discuss the impact of the US–Iran conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the global base oil markets. Even as trade flows evolve, Group III supply remains limited, driving price spikes in the US and Europe. Market participants look towards Asia as supply is showing signs of a recovery and China’s growing output is reducing its reliance on imports. We examine shifting arbitrage, demand erosion from high prices, and the near-term supply outlook amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty.