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| homepage = {{URL|https://www.trafigura.com/|trafigura.com}} | | homepage = {{URL|https://www.trafigura.com/|trafigura.com}} | ||
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'''Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd.''' is a multinational commodities company<ref>{{Citation |date=5 March 2024 |title=Biofuels supplier powers up Trafigura's shift to greener future |work=]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/04trafigura-gc5m38k9k |access-date=}}</ref> domiciled in Singapore<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-09 |title=Singapore-based Trafigura faces $766m loss after uncovering nickel fraud {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/business/commodity-trader-trafigura-faces-762-million-loss-after-uncovering-nickel-fraud |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}</ref> with major regional hubs in Geneva, Houston, Montevideo and Mumbai, founded in 1993. The company trades in ]s and energy. It is the world's largest private metals trader and second-largest oil trader having built or purchased stakes in pipelines, mines, smelters, ports and storage terminals. | '''Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd.''' is a multinational commodities company<ref>{{Citation |date=5 March 2024 |title=Biofuels supplier powers up Trafigura's shift to greener future |work=]|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/04trafigura-gc5m38k9k |access-date=}}</ref> domiciled in Singapore,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-02-09 |title=Singapore-based Trafigura faces $766m loss after uncovering nickel fraud {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/business/commodity-trader-trafigura-faces-762-million-loss-after-uncovering-nickel-fraud |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}</ref> with major regional hubs in Geneva, Houston, Montevideo and Mumbai, founded in 1993. The company trades in ]s and energy. It is the world's largest private metals trader and second-largest oil trader having built or purchased stakes in pipelines, mines, smelters, ports and storage terminals. | ||
Trafigura was formed by ] and Eric de Turckheim in 1993 |
Trafigura was formed by ] and Eric de Turckheim in 1993 but quickly split off from a group of companies managed by ].<ref name="guardian09" /> | ||
Trafigura has been named or involved in several scandals, particularly the ] |
Trafigura has been named or involved in several scandals, particularly the ] (which left up to 100,000 people with skin rashes, headaches and respiratory problems)<ref>{{cite web|last1= Ball|first1= James|last2= Davies|first2= Harries|date= 23 July 2015|title= UK authorities 'lack resources' to investigate Trafigura over toxic waste|website= ]|url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/23/uk-authorities-lack-resources-to-investigate-trafigura-over-toxic-waste|access-date= 13 December 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161210173225/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/23/uk-authorities-lack-resources-to-investigate-trafigura-over-toxic-waste|archive-date= 10 December 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> and the Iraq ]. | ||
==History == | ==History == | ||
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In November 2013, it was announced that Tory peer and former leader of the ] ], ] would be joining Trafigura as a non-executive director. He had previously stood down from the board of the group’s ] arm following the 2009 controversy over the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blas|first1=Javier|last2=Farchy|first2=Jack|date=14 April 2013|title=Trafigura adds Lord Strathclyde to board|work=]|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2mXDsrEFq|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519033815/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2mXDsrEFq|archive-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> | In November 2013, it was announced that Tory peer and former leader of the ] ], ] would be joining Trafigura as a non-executive director. He had previously stood down from the board of the group’s ] arm following the 2009 controversy over the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blas|first1=Javier|last2=Farchy|first2=Jack|date=14 April 2013|title=Trafigura adds Lord Strathclyde to board|work=]|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2mXDsrEFq|url-status=live|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519033815/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2mXDsrEFq|archive-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> | ||
Executive chairman ] |
Executive chairman ], the last remaining founder in an executive position, owned less than 20 per cent of the group’s equity at his death in September 2015, while more than 700 senior managers controlled the rest.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tatianaserafin/2013/02/08/riding-glencore-wave-commodity-trader-claude-dauphin-becomes-a-billionaire/ |title=Riding Glencore Wave, Commodity Trader Claude Dauphin Becomes a Billionaire |last=Serafin |first=Tatiana |date=2 August 2013 |work=] |access-date=29 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170242/http://www.forbes.com/sites/tatianaserafin/2013/02/08/riding-glencore-wave-commodity-trader-claude-dauphin-becomes-a-billionaire/ |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Dauphin was succeeded by Jeremy Weir, who, in 2025, will assume the role of Group Chairman, while Richard Holtum will take the helm as CEO as of January 2025, according to the company's succession plan. Holtum is a 10-year veteran of the firm, and its global head of gas, power and renewables, who will join Trafigura's board of directors in October 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/trafigura-names-holtum-new-ceo-2024-09-24/ |title=Trafigura names Richard Holtum as new CEO |last=Harvey |first=Robert |date=24 September 2024 |work=Reuters |access-date=26 September 2024 }}</ref> | ||
Trafigura operated in 65 offices |
Trafigura operated in 65 offices from 36 countries as of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ise.ie/debt_documents/Trafigura%20Beheer%20BV%20Annual%20Report%202014_9d5452ba-0a0b-48ac-b370-cee16a7301f3.pdf?v=402015 |title=Trafigura 2014 Annual Report |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |website=Irish Stock Exchange |access-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930161153/http://www.ise.ie/debt_documents/Trafigura%20Beheer%20BV%20Annual%20Report%202014_9d5452ba-0a0b-48ac-b370-cee16a7301f3.pdf?v=402015 |archive-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, revenue was $244.3 billion, net income was $7.4 billion,<ref name="0:B"/> assets were $90.5 billion,<ref name="0:C"/> and equity was $16.5 billion.<ref name="0:D"/> In 2024, the company had around 12,000 employees<ref name="0:A"/> operating in 150 countries,<ref name="0:D"/> with 50 offices,<ref name=fiftyoffices/> and is wholly owned by about 1,400 of its employees.<ref name=PROBE/> | ||
In October 2024, the company reported that individuals in its Mongolian petroleum products supply business had, over a five year period, concealed overdue debts and manipulated data, resulting in inflated sums paid by the company.<ref name=OIL>Financial Times , October 30, 2024.</ref> Local regulations require international fuel supplier deliveries to stop at the border, necessitating local operatives for deliveries to the domestic market.<ref name=PROBE>Bloomberg October 30, 2024.</ref> The trader is recording a provision of $1.1 billion resulting from the misconduct by staff in its Mongolian office.<ref name=OIL/><ref name=PROBE/> | |||
===Investments === | ===Investments === | ||
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Trafigura was criticised in December 2022 for handing out "more than $1.7bn (£1.4bn) to its top traders and shareholders after the energy crisis, fuelled by the war in Ukraine".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Alex |date=2022-12-08 |title=Trafigura hands out $1.7bn in dividends on profits fuelled by Ukraine war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/08/trafigura-posts-17bn-net-profit-fuelled-by-ukraine-war |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> | Trafigura was criticised in December 2022 for handing out "more than $1.7bn (£1.4bn) to its top traders and shareholders after the energy crisis, fuelled by the war in Ukraine".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Alex |date=2022-12-08 |title=Trafigura hands out $1.7bn in dividends on profits fuelled by Ukraine war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/08/trafigura-posts-17bn-net-profit-fuelled-by-ukraine-war |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> | ||
In 2022, the ] (LAR), a joint venture between Trafigura, ] of ], and independent ] rail operator Vecturis, secured a 30-year concession to operate the Lobito rail corridor, which runs across Angola to the ] (DRC). To mark the transfer of the concession, a ceremony was held on 4 July 2023 in Lobito, with Presidents ] of ], ] of the DRC, and ] of ] in attendance. The concession encompassed the 1,300 |
In 2022, the ] (LAR), a joint venture between Trafigura, ] of ], and independent ] rail operator Vecturis, secured a 30-year concession to operate the Lobito rail corridor, which runs across Angola to the ] (DRC). To mark the transfer of the concession, a ceremony was held on 4 July 2023 in Lobito, with Presidents ] of ], ] of the DRC, and ] of ] in attendance. The concession encompassed the 1,300-kilometre Benguela railway corridor in Angola, extending it 400 kilometres into the DRC, and any potential service extensions in Zambia. The three countries signed an agreement to accelerate growth in domestic and cross-border trade along the corridor. The new company committed to upgrading infrastructure and services, investing US$455,000,000 in Angola and up to US$100,000,000 in the DRC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boechat |first=Geraldine |date=2023-07-04 |title=Presidents of Angola, Zambia and DRC get together to launch Lobito corridor |url=https://medafricatimes.com/31578-presidents-of-angola-zambia-and-drc-get-together-to-launch-lobito-corridor.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Medafrica Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-10 |title=Transfer Commences Of The Concession Of Railway Services And Support Logistics Of The Lobito Corridor In Angola To The Lobito Atlantic Railway |url=https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/transfer-commences-of-the-concession-of-railway-services-and-support-logistics-of-the-lobito-corridor-in-angola-to-the-lobito-atlantic-railway |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Railways Africa}}</ref> | ||
The Lobito Corridor project is considered a ] ] (PGI) flagship investment in Africa.<ref> News 24. Access date: 2024-08-23</ref> LAR’s mineral terminal at the ] launched the venture's port operations in Angola with the docking of the ''MV Lindsaylou'' on July 12, 2024, with sulphur on board to be transferred to LAR cargo trains for shipment to the ] for use in refined copper production in the ] region.<ref> Mining Weekly. Access date: 2024-08-23</ref> | The Lobito Corridor project is considered a ] ] (PGI) flagship investment in Africa.<ref> News 24. Access date: 2024-08-23</ref> LAR’s mineral terminal at the ] launched the venture's port operations in Angola with the docking of the ''MV Lindsaylou'' on July 12, 2024, with sulphur on board to be transferred to LAR cargo trains for shipment to the ] for use in refined copper production in the ] region.<ref> Mining Weekly. Access date: 2024-08-23</ref> | ||
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}}</ref> This was on 13 May and 27 August 2001. ] employees had first talked about this scheme in February 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoyos |first=Carola |date=28 October 2005 |title=Big oil groups implicated in oil-for-food scandal |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1f250dd4-47de-11da-a949-00000e2511c8.html |access-date=18 May 2007 |work=]}}</ref> | }}</ref> This was on 13 May and 27 August 2001. ] employees had first talked about this scheme in February 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoyos |first=Carola |date=28 October 2005 |title=Big oil groups implicated in oil-for-food scandal |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/1f250dd4-47de-11da-a949-00000e2511c8.html |access-date=18 May 2007 |work=]}}</ref> | ||
In February 2013, Trafigura Maritime Ventures Limited—the Malta |
In February 2013, Trafigura Maritime Ventures Limited—the Malta-based subsidiary of Trafigura Maritime Logistics PTE Limited based in Singapore—and the oil trading arm of Total became involved in an oil ] controversy that led them to both be barred from the ] process at the ] oil purchasing board.<ref>{{cite web |last=Micallef |first=Mark |date=2013-02-21 |title=Trafigura and Total are barred from fuel tenders |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130221/local/Trafigura-and-Total-are-barred-from-fuel-tenders.458549 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224092157/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130221/local/Trafigura-and-Total-are-barred-from-fuel-tenders.458549 |archive-date=24 February 2013 |access-date=4 June 2013 |website=]}}</ref> Between 1999 and 2012, Enemalta paid the two companies $3.2 billion for oil, accounting for 70% of the oil purchased by Enemalta in that time period.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balzan |first=Saviour |date=2015-03-11 |title=Trafigura, TOTSA paid $3.2 billion for fuel oil in 13 years |url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/50558/trafigura_totsa_paid_32_billion_in_13_years#.WEAuoPnhCUk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202101109/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/50558/trafigura_totsa_paid_32_billion_in_13_years#.WEAuoPnhCUk |archive-date=2 December 2016 |access-date=1 December 2016 |newspaper=]}}</ref> | ||
In May 2015, the ] reported that Trafigura has become a major exporter |
In May 2015, the ] reported that Trafigura has become a major exporter of ] crude oil from Russia despite sanctions. The company has seen a surge in such exports, almost 9 million barrels of crude in April 2015, mostly for Asian markets, financed by pre-pay oil deals in the form of short-term loans that are not subject to sanctions. While some commodity traders have been cautious dealing with sanctioned companies, Trafigura, which works with a number of global banks financing the oil deals, has found a reliable partner in Rosneft for global business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Swiss Trafigura now largest exporter of Russian oil amid sanctions regime |url=https://www.unian.info/economics/1083168-swiss-trafigura-now-largest-exporter-of-russian-oil-amid-sanctions-regime.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612232934/https://economics.unian.info/1083168-swiss-trafigura-now-largest-exporter-of-russian-oil-amid-sanctions-regime.html |archive-date=2018-06-12 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> | ||
In 2016, the Swiss ] ] published the results of its investigation showing how traders – especially Trafigura – prepare and sell "African quality" toxic fuel to Africa, containing ] that causes ] pollution, damaging human health.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026001113/https://www.publiceye.ch/en/campaigns/dirtydiesel/ |date=26 October 2016 }}, campaign of ], including the report ''Dirty Diesel - How Swiss Traders Flood Africa with Toxic Fuels'' (page visited on 25 October 2016). The results of the investigation of Public Eye was relayed by media such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', ], the ], '']'', the '']'' and the ].</ref><ref name="bbc16">{{Cite news |date=2016-09-15 |title=Fuel 'too dirty' for Europe sold to Africa |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37373414 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Dubas">{{Cite news |last=Dubas |first=Sébastie |date=2016-11-07 |title=Dans certains pays d'Afrique, la pollution tue davantage que les principales maladies |trans-title=In some African countries, pollution kills more than major diseases |url=https://www.letemps.ch/economie/2016/11/07/certains-pays-dafrique-pollution-tue-davantage-principales-maladies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052003/https://www.letemps.ch/economie/2016/11/07/certains-pays-dafrique-pollution-tue-davantage-principales-maladies |archive-date=2016-11-08 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=] |language=fr}}</ref> Subsequently, ] reduced the maximum limit of sulphur in imported ] from 3000 to 50 ], from March 2017 (the European limit is 10 parts per million).<ref name=Dubas/><ref name="Guéniat">{{in lang|fr}} Marc Guéniat, "Marée noire sur le négoce de carburants", ''Public Eye – Le magazine'', number 2, November 2016, pages 15-17.</ref> Trafigura stated that the report was "misconceived" as they only supply legal fuel<ref name=bbc16/> and that it is up to governments to set fuel specifications.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 November 2016 |title=De l'air pollué livré à un négociant en carburant |trans-title=Polluted air delivered to a fuel trader |url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/geneve/story/De-l-air-pollue-livre-a-un-negociant-en-carburant-11407524 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110175954/http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/geneve/story/De-l-air-pollue-livre-a-un-negociant-en-carburant-11407524 |archive-date=10 November 2016 |access-date=17 November 2016 |newspaper=20 minutes |language=fr}}</ref> | In 2016, the Swiss ] ] published the results of its investigation showing how traders – especially Trafigura – prepare and sell "African quality" toxic fuel to Africa, containing ] that causes ] pollution, damaging human health.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026001113/https://www.publiceye.ch/en/campaigns/dirtydiesel/ |date=26 October 2016 }}, campaign of ], including the report ''Dirty Diesel - How Swiss Traders Flood Africa with Toxic Fuels'' (page visited on 25 October 2016). The results of the investigation of Public Eye was relayed by media such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', ], the ], '']'', the '']'' and the ].</ref><ref name="bbc16">{{Cite news |date=2016-09-15 |title=Fuel 'too dirty' for Europe sold to Africa |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37373414 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Dubas">{{Cite news |last=Dubas |first=Sébastie |date=2016-11-07 |title=Dans certains pays d'Afrique, la pollution tue davantage que les principales maladies |trans-title=In some African countries, pollution kills more than major diseases |url=https://www.letemps.ch/economie/2016/11/07/certains-pays-dafrique-pollution-tue-davantage-principales-maladies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052003/https://www.letemps.ch/economie/2016/11/07/certains-pays-dafrique-pollution-tue-davantage-principales-maladies |archive-date=2016-11-08 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=] |language=fr}}</ref> Subsequently, ] reduced the maximum limit of sulphur in imported ] from 3000 to 50 ], from March 2017 (the European limit is 10 parts per million).<ref name=Dubas/><ref name="Guéniat">{{in lang|fr}} Marc Guéniat, "Marée noire sur le négoce de carburants", ''Public Eye – Le magazine'', number 2, November 2016, pages 15-17.</ref> Trafigura stated that the report was "misconceived" as they only supply legal fuel<ref name=bbc16/> and that it is up to governments to set fuel specifications.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 November 2016 |title=De l'air pollué livré à un négociant en carburant |trans-title=Polluted air delivered to a fuel trader |url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/geneve/story/De-l-air-pollue-livre-a-un-negociant-en-carburant-11407524 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110175954/http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/geneve/story/De-l-air-pollue-livre-a-un-negociant-en-carburant-11407524 |archive-date=10 November 2016 |access-date=17 November 2016 |newspaper=20 minutes |language=fr}}</ref> | ||
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In November 2018 ] asked the UK's ] and the US authorities to investigate alleged ties between the Brazilian ] scandal and three oil trading companies, one of which was Trafigura.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Rob |date=8 November 2018 |title=Oil trading firms linked to Brazil's Car Wash corruption scandal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/oil-trading-firms-linked-to-brazils-car-wash-corruption-scandal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184855/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/oil-trading-firms-linked-to-brazils-car-wash-corruption-scandal |archive-date=8 November 2018 |access-date=14 February 2024 |work=]}}</ref> Trafigura is keeping the allegations "under review" and affirms that it "is taking the allegations ... seriously",<ref name="car-wash">{{cite press release |url=https://www.trafigura.com/news/updated-trafigura-statement-on-operation-car-wash |title=Updated Trafigura statement on Operation Car Wash |location=Brazil |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=26 April 2020}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> but has denied that its management knew that payments would be used to make improper payments to employees of Petrobras.<ref name="car-wash" /> | In November 2018 ] asked the UK's ] and the US authorities to investigate alleged ties between the Brazilian ] scandal and three oil trading companies, one of which was Trafigura.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Rob |date=8 November 2018 |title=Oil trading firms linked to Brazil's Car Wash corruption scandal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/oil-trading-firms-linked-to-brazils-car-wash-corruption-scandal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184855/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/08/oil-trading-firms-linked-to-brazils-car-wash-corruption-scandal |archive-date=8 November 2018 |access-date=14 February 2024 |work=]}}</ref> Trafigura is keeping the allegations "under review" and affirms that it "is taking the allegations ... seriously",<ref name="car-wash">{{cite press release |url=https://www.trafigura.com/news/updated-trafigura-statement-on-operation-car-wash |title=Updated Trafigura statement on Operation Car Wash |location=Brazil |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=26 April 2020}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> but has denied that its management knew that payments would be used to make improper payments to employees of Petrobras.<ref name="car-wash" /> | ||
Some 18 months later, in May 2020, the ''Guardian'' reported Trafigura was under investigation by the US ] (CFTC) for alleged corruption and ] relating to oil trading. Subpoenas demand information going back at least four years relating to "manipulation and corruption involving oil products and trading". It was unclear if the CFTC investigation was related to Operation Car Wash.<ref name="Davies-31May2020">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Rob |date=31 May 2020 |title=Trafigura investigated for alleged corruption, market manipulation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/31/trafigura-investigated-for-alleged-corruption-market-manipulation |access-date=1 June 2020 |work=]}}</ref> In March 2024, Trafigura agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine of about $127 million to resolve charges of bribery of government officials in Brazil by former employees or agents during previous decades, |
Some 18 months later, in May 2020, the ''Guardian'' reported Trafigura was under investigation by the US ] (CFTC) for alleged corruption and ] relating to oil trading. Subpoenas demand information going back at least four years relating to "manipulation and corruption involving oil products and trading". It was unclear if the CFTC investigation was related to Operation Car Wash.<ref name="Davies-31May2020">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Rob |date=31 May 2020 |title=Trafigura investigated for alleged corruption, market manipulation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/31/trafigura-investigated-for-alleged-corruption-market-manipulation |access-date=1 June 2020 |work=]}}</ref> In March 2024, Trafigura agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine of about $127 million to resolve charges of bribery of government officials in Brazil by former employees or agents during previous decades, after a series of DOJ probes into oil industry practices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trafigura pleads guilty, agrees to pay about $127 million to settle US probe |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/trafigura-pay-127-million-over-us-doj-probe-2024-03-28/ |website=Reuters |date=28 March 2024}}</ref> | ||
In April 2023, the ''Washington Examiner'' claimed that American government is enabling the commodity trader to funnel money back to Vladimir Putin's inner circle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogan |first=Tom |date=2023-04-18 |title=Why is the Biden administration helping Trafigura make money for a Kremlin kingpin? |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/915530/why-is-the-biden-administration-helping-trafigura-make-money-for-a-kremlin-kingpin/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> | In April 2023, the ''Washington Examiner'' claimed that the American government is enabling the commodity trader to funnel money back to Vladimir Putin's inner circle.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogan |first=Tom |date=2023-04-18 |title=Why is the Biden administration helping Trafigura make money for a Kremlin kingpin? |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/915530/why-is-the-biden-administration-helping-trafigura-make-money-for-a-kremlin-kingpin/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
In June 2024, Trafigura agreed to pay the US ] $55 million to settle allegations of fraud, manipulation and impeding whistleblowers. As part of the agreement, Trafigura neither admitted nor denied the CFTC's charges, which dated back to 2014. Two CFTC commissioners took issue with the whistleblower component of the settlement.<ref>{{Citation |last=Smagalla |first=David |date=17 June 2024 |title=Trafigura Subsidiary Settles With CFTC in First-Ever Action Over Impeding Whistleblowers |publisher=] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trafigura-subsidiary-settles-with-cftc-in-first-ever-action-over-impeding-whistleblowers-056e3747 |access-date=}}</ref> | In June 2024, Trafigura agreed to pay the US ] $55 million to settle allegations of fraud, manipulation and impeding whistleblowers. As part of the agreement, Trafigura neither admitted nor denied the CFTC's charges, which dated back to 2014. Two CFTC commissioners took issue with the whistleblower component of the settlement.<ref>{{Citation |last=Smagalla |first=David |date=17 June 2024 |title=Trafigura Subsidiary Settles With CFTC in First-Ever Action Over Impeding Whistleblowers |publisher=] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trafigura-subsidiary-settles-with-cftc-in-first-ever-action-over-impeding-whistleblowers-056e3747 |access-date=}}</ref> | ||
On November 18, 2024, an indictment by the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland was released, showing that the company had been charged with failing to prevent unlawful payments during 2009 to 2011. A trial is scheduled to commence December 2.<ref>{{Citation |title=Trafigura Paid Bribes Via 'Mr. Non-Compliant,' Swiss Prosecutors Say |publisher=] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-18/how-trafigura-s-mr-non-compliant-landed-commodities-giant-in-a-swiss-court |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref> | |||
==Waste dumping in Ivory Coast== | ==Waste dumping in Ivory Coast== | ||
{{main article|2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump}} | {{main article|2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump}} | ||
The 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump was a health crisis in Ivory Coast in which the ''Probo Koala'', a ship registered in Panama and chartered by Trafigura, hired a local contractor to offload waste in Abidjan after refusing to pay a €1,000 per cubic metre surcharge imposed by Amsterdam Port Services to discourage waste disposal in the Netherlands.<ref name="spiegel-2006">{{Cite news |last1=Knauer |first1=Sebastian |last2=Thielke |first2=Thilo |last3=Traufetter |first3=Gerald|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/toxic-waste-ship-probo-koala-profits-for-europe-industrial-slop-for-africa-a-437842.html |title=Profits for Europe, Industrial Slop for Africa |date=18 September 2016|work=Spiegel International |language=en-US |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref> The local contractor, Tommy, improperly dumped the waste materials at as many as 12 sites in and around the city of Abidjan in August 2006. The gas caused by the release of these chemicals is blamed by the UN and the government of Ivory Coast for the deaths of 17 and the injury of over 30,000 Ivorians, with injuries that ranged from mild headaches to severe burns of skin and lungs. Almost 100,000 Ivorians sought medical attention after |
The 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump was a health crisis in Ivory Coast in which the ''Probo Koala'', a ship registered in Panama and chartered by Trafigura, hired a local contractor to offload waste in Abidjan after refusing to pay a €1,000 per cubic metre surcharge imposed by Amsterdam Port Services to discourage waste disposal in the Netherlands.<ref name="spiegel-2006">{{Cite news |last1=Knauer |first1=Sebastian |last2=Thielke |first2=Thilo |last3=Traufetter |first3=Gerald|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/toxic-waste-ship-probo-koala-profits-for-europe-industrial-slop-for-africa-a-437842.html |title=Profits for Europe, Industrial Slop for Africa |date=18 September 2016|work=Spiegel International |language=en-US |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref> The local contractor, Tommy, improperly dumped the waste materials at as many as 12 sites in and around the city of Abidjan in August 2006. The gas caused by the release of these chemicals is blamed by the UN and the government of Ivory Coast for the deaths of 17 and the injury of over 30,000 Ivorians, with injuries that ranged from mild headaches to severe burns of skin and lungs. Almost 100,000 Ivorians sought medical attention after Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny offered free medical care in Abidjan’s hospitals to the city’s residents.<ref name="VOA-23-11-2006">{{Cite news | title = Ivory Coast Government Panel Releases Toxic Waste Findings | date = 23 November 2006 | url = http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2006-11-23-voa22.html | work = Voice of America | access-date = 27 July 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111001021153/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2006-11-23-voa22.html | archive-date = 1 October 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref> | ||
Trafigura maintains that the substance dumped consisted of "slops", or ] from washing the Probo Koala's tanks. An inquiry in the Netherlands, in late 2006, confirmed the substance to consist of more than 500 tonnes of a mix of fuel, ] |
Trafigura maintains that the substance dumped consisted of "slops", or ] from washing the Probo Koala's tanks. An inquiry in the Netherlands, in late 2006, confirmed the substance to consist of more than 500 tonnes of a mix of fuel, ] and ]. After the start of the health crisis in Abidjan, the Probo Koala arrived at the port of Paldiski in Estonia where Trafigura permitted Dutch police onboard to conduct an investigation.<ref name="spiegel-2006" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Leigh |first1=David |last2=Hirsch |first2= Afua |date=13 May 2009 |title=Papers prove Trafigura ship dumped toxic waste in Ivory Coast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/may/13/trafigura-ivory-coast-documents-toxic-waste |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204021923/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/may/13/trafigura-ivory-coast-documents-toxic-waste |archive-date=4 December 2016 |work=] |access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In pictures: Ivorian toxic waste |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5322760.stm |date=7 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071012/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5322760.stm |archive-date=6 October 2014 |access-date=14 February 2024 |work=]}}</ref> | ||
Trafigura denied any waste was transported from the Netherlands, saying that the substances contained only tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and that the company did not know the substance was to be disposed of improperly. Trafigura officials, including Claude Dauphin and the company’s West Africa regional director, |
Trafigura denied any waste was transported from the Netherlands, saying that the substances contained only tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and that the company did not know the substance was to be disposed of improperly. Trafigura officials, including Claude Dauphin and the company’s West Africa regional director, travelled to Abidjan to assist in the cleanup effort but were arrested and imprisoned by the Ivorian government. While its executives were being held, the company agreed to pay US$198 million for cleanup to the Ivorian government without admitting wrongdoing, and the Ivorian government pledged not to prosecute the company.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Peter |date=2007-08-09 |title=Trafigura to pay $198 mln settlement to Ivory Coast |work=] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ivorycoast-toxic-settlement/trafigura-to-pay-198-mln-settlement-to-ivory-coast-idUSL1333815220070213/ |access-date=2024-02-14}}</ref> Dauphin and his fellow executives were released following the settlement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Peter |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ivorycoast-toxic-release-idUSL1461558720070214 |title=Trafigura execs released after Ivory Coast deal |date=9 August 2007 |work=] |access-date=1 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202035909/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ivorycoast-toxic-release-idUSL1461558720070214 |archive-date=2 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
In 2008 a civil lawsuit in London was launched by almost 30,000 Ivorians against Trafigura. In May 2009 Trafigura announced it would sue the BBC for libel after its '']'' program alleged the company had knowingly sought to cover up its role in the incident. In September 2009 ''The Guardian'' obtained and published internal Trafigura emails showing that the traders responsible knew how dangerous the chemicals were. Shortly |
In 2008 a civil lawsuit in London was launched by almost 30,000 Ivorians against Trafigura. In May 2009 Trafigura announced it would sue the BBC for libel after its '']'' program alleged the company had knowingly sought to cover up its role in the incident. In September 2009 ''The Guardian'' obtained and published internal Trafigura emails showing that the traders responsible knew how dangerous the chemicals were. Shortly afterward Trafigura agreed to a settlement of £30 million to settle the suit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leigh |first=David |date=2009-09-16 |title=How UK oil company Trafigura tried to cover up African pollution disaster |work=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/16/trafigura-oil-ivory-coast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202121632/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/16/trafigura-oil-ivory-coast |archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> In 2010 a Dutch court found Trafigura guilty of illegally exporting toxic waste from Amsterdam.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-10735255 |title=Trafigura found guilty of exporting toxic waste |date=23 July 2010 |access-date=5 June 2016 |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417171017/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-10735255 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
== Alleged bribery of Angolan government officials == | == Alleged bribery of Angolan government officials == | ||
In December 2023, Trafigura and its former chief operating officer Mike Wainwright were accused by Swiss investigators of arranging roughly €5 million of bribes to an Angolan government official representing Sonagol, Angola's state oil company, between 2009 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Joe |title=Switzerland Charges Trafigura and a Former Top Executive With Bribery |url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/commodities-futures/switzerland-charges-trafigura-and-a-former-top-executive-with-bribery-3a3814fc |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> Prosecutors allege that the funds allowed the official to secure eight ship-chartering contracts and one bunkering contract that resulted in profits of $143.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trafigura targeted by US and Swiss over corruption |url=https://www.mining.com/web/trafigura-targeted-by-us-and-swiss-over-corruption/ |website=Mining.com |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> | In December 2023, Trafigura and its former chief operating officer Mike Wainwright were accused by Swiss investigators of arranging roughly €5 million of bribes to an Angolan government official representing Sonagol, Angola's state oil company, between 2009 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wallace |first1=Joe |title=Switzerland Charges Trafigura and a Former Top Executive With Bribery |url=https://www.wsj.com/finance/commodities-futures/switzerland-charges-trafigura-and-a-former-top-executive-with-bribery-3a3814fc |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> Prosecutors allege that the funds allowed the official to secure eight ship-chartering contracts and one bunkering contract that resulted in profits of $143.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trafigura targeted by US and Swiss over corruption |url=https://www.mining.com/web/trafigura-targeted-by-us-and-swiss-over-corruption/ |website=Mining.com |access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> | ||
As of December 2024, Trafigura, is facing increased scrutiny from its lenders following a series of scandals that have significantly impacted its earnings and reputation. The company recently uncovered a $1.1 billion fraud in its Mongolian oil division, which contributed to a steep decline in profits and ] pay-outs. This incident follows a $600 million nickel fraud reported in 2023. | |||
The Mongolia scandal has triggered questions from risk committees at some of Trafigura's lenders, although it has not resulted in credit line suspensions. Banks have requested that Trafigura include an explanation of the Mongolian events and its remediation plan in the presentation for its upcoming European revolving credit facility. | |||
Trafigura's annual results revealed that the Mongolia scandal and regulatory fines cost the group more than $500 million this year, reducing net profits to $2.8 billion. The company has been forced to restate earnings for two prior years and revise down its equity value at the end of 2023 from $16.5 billion to $15.8 billion. | |||
In response to these issues, Trafigura has undertaken a compliance overhaul and is expanding its risk department. The company maintains that the Mongolia problem was isolated and discovered due to tighter risk controls implemented after the nickel fraud. | |||
Trafigura is also dealing with other legal and regulatory challenges. It reached a $127 million settlement with the US Justice Department in March, pleading guilty to a bribery scheme in ]. In May, it agreed to a $55 million settlement with US regulators over fraud and market manipulation charges. | |||
As the company prepares for a leadership transition, with ] taking over as CEO on January 1, 2025, and ] becoming chairman, Trafigura faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and ensuring that its new compliance measures are sufficient to prevent future losses.<ref>https://www.ft.com/content/36ded489-bafe-42b4-bdbc-9b0ede7a0b66</ref> | |||
==Brazil Bribery Case== | |||
On March 28, 2024, Trafigura pleaded guilty to ] to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the ] (FCPA) in connection with bribes paid to Brazilian officials. The company agreed to pay approximately $127 million to settle the U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The bribery scheme operated between 2003 and 2014, during which Trafigura paid bribes to ] officials to secure and maintain contracts. The illicit payments amounted to up to 20 cents per barrel of oil products bought from or sold to Petrobras. These bribes were concealed using shell companies and intermediaries with offshore bank accounts. <ref>https://complianceconcourse.willkie.com/articles/doj-reaches-settlement-with-trafigura-to-resolve-fcpa-anti-bribery-allegations/</ref> <ref>https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/trafigura-pay-127-million-over-us-doj-probe-2024-03-28/</ref> <ref>https://vinciworks.com/resources-files/Anti_bribery/case-study-trafigura.pdf</ref> | |||
Trafigura's involvement in this case is connected to Brazil's largest political corruption scandal, known as "]" or "]". This is the first time Trafigura has admitted to being involved in the Car Wash scandal, although its rivals ] and ] had previously admitted to bribery in relation to the same scandal. <ref>https://vinciworks.com/blog/trafigura-pleads-guilty-to-a-decade-of-bribery-in-126m-deal/</ref> | |||
Settlement Details | |||
The settlement includes: | |||
A criminal fine of approximately $80.5 million | |||
Forfeiture of $46.5 million in proceeds derived from the conspiracy | |||
Credit of up to $26.8 million for amounts paid to resolve a related Brazilian investigation. As part of the agreement, Trafigura is required to submit annual reports on its remediation efforts and implementation of compliance measures, as well as participate in quarterly meetings with the DOJ over a three-year period. | |||
==Other Legal Issues== | |||
In addition to the Brazil case, Trafigura is facing legal challenges in other jurisdictions: | |||
]: A court case involving alleged bribes to an Angolan official is ongoing. In December 2024, a Swiss court denied Trafigura's bid to dismiss this corruption case6. | |||
Mexico: The U.S. ] (CFTC) ordered Trafigura to pay $55 million for fraud and manipulation related to the gasoline market in ] between 2014 and April 20191. <ref>https://www.reuters.com/business/swiss-court-denies-trafigura-bid-dismiss-corruption-case-2024-12-03/</ref> | |||
==Corporate structure== | ==Corporate structure== | ||
Line 173: | Line 197: | ||
* Trafigura Beheer BV, based in the Netherlands.<ref name="Johnson2003">{{cite book|author=Douglas Hamilton Johnson|title=The root causes of Sudan's civil wars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U-PuCbRr4tcC&pg=PA163|access-date=21 December 2010|date=16 January 2003|publisher=International African Institute in association with James Currey|isbn=978-0-85255-392-3|page=163|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618225307/http://books.google.com/books?id=U-PuCbRr4tcC&pg=PA163|archive-date=18 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> | * Trafigura Beheer BV, based in the Netherlands.<ref name="Johnson2003">{{cite book|author=Douglas Hamilton Johnson|title=The root causes of Sudan's civil wars|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U-PuCbRr4tcC&pg=PA163|access-date=21 December 2010|date=16 January 2003|publisher=International African Institute in association with James Currey|isbn=978-0-85255-392-3|page=163|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618225307/http://books.google.com/books?id=U-PuCbRr4tcC&pg=PA163|archive-date=18 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
* Impala Group of Companies, which |
* Impala Group of Companies, which operates the group’s worldwide oil storage and distribution assets and investments has been a wholly-owned subsidiary since 2001. | ||
* ], which operates in more than 20 countries, mainly in Central America and Africa, and supplies a network of just over 600 service stations. On 7 May 2012, Puma |
* ], which operates in more than 20 countries, mainly in Central America and Africa, and supplies a network of just over 600 service stations. On 7 May 2012, Puma agreed to buy out the key shareholders in ], the largest independent oil marketing company in east and central Africa, which could add 400 stations to its network.<ref>{{cite press release |last=Segman |first=Jacob I. |url=http://www.kenolkobil.com/index.php/component/content/article/58/311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103151844/http://kenolkobil.com/index.php/component/content/article/58/311 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 November 2013 |title=KenolKobil - Cautionary Statement |date=7 May 2012 |publisher=KenolKobil|access-date=17 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/USD800m-KenolKobil-price-tag-too-high-for-Puma/-/2558/1715806/-/nqqep0/-/index.html |title=$800m KenolKobil price tag 'too high for Puma' |date=9 March 2013 |access-date=17 August 2015 |website=] |publisher=] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130314181039/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/USD800m-KenolKobil-price-tag-too-high-for-Puma/-/2558/1715806/-/nqqep0/-/index.html |archive-date=14 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Puma Energy later terminated its bid to acquire the oil marketer.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/-/539550/1708360/-/10167ko/-/index.html|title = Puma drops bid to acquire KenolKobil|date = 1 March 2013|access-date = 17 August 2015|website = Business Daily Africa|publisher = Nation Media Group|last = Juma|first = Victor|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195703/http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/-/539550/1708360/-/10167ko/-/index.html|archive-date = 23 September 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> | ||
* EMINCAR, based in ] until 2010. Dedicated to consulting and mineral logistics administration. | * EMINCAR, based in ] until 2010. Dedicated to consulting and mineral logistics administration. | ||
* Galena Asset Management, based in Switzerland,<ref>{{cite press release |title=Mawson West Announces Notice of Compulsory Acquisition by Galena Private Equity Resources Fund and Notice of TSX Delisting |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/mawson-west-announces-notice-compulsory-acquisition-galena-private-equity-resources-tsx-mwe-2168315.htm |work=Market Wired |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918110453/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/mawson-west-announces-notice-compulsory-acquisition-galena-private-equity-resources-tsx-mwe-2168315.htm |archive-date=18 September 2017 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> is the subsidiary through which Trafigura has established and manages a fund management business. ], the leader of the ] in the ], is a non-executive director on the board.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farchy |first1=Jack |last2=Blas |first2=Javier |date=14 April 2013 |title=Trafigura adds Lord Strathclyde to board |url=https://www.ft.com/content/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0 |newspaper=] |access-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728161951/https://www.ft.com/content/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> | * Galena Asset Management, based in Switzerland,<ref>{{cite press release |title=Mawson West Announces Notice of Compulsory Acquisition by Galena Private Equity Resources Fund and Notice of TSX Delisting |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/mawson-west-announces-notice-compulsory-acquisition-galena-private-equity-resources-tsx-mwe-2168315.htm |work=Market Wired |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918110453/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/mawson-west-announces-notice-compulsory-acquisition-galena-private-equity-resources-tsx-mwe-2168315.htm |archive-date=18 September 2017 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> is the subsidiary through which Trafigura has established and manages a fund management business. ], the leader of the ] in the ], is a non-executive director on the board.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farchy |first1=Jack |last2=Blas |first2=Javier |date=14 April 2013 |title=Trafigura adds Lord Strathclyde to board |url=https://www.ft.com/content/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0 |newspaper=] |access-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728161951/https://www.ft.com/content/20d123d2-a51b-11e2-8777-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |
Latest revision as of 11:32, 26 December 2024
Singapore-based multinational commodity trading company
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Commodity |
Founded | 1993; 31 years ago (1993) |
Headquarters | Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jeremy Weir (CEO, executive chairman) |
Services | Commodity trading/logistics |
Revenue | US$244.3 billion (FY2023) |
Net income | US$7.4 billion (FY2023) |
Total assets | US$90.5 billion (FY2023) |
Total equity | US$16.5 billion (FY2023) |
Number of employees | 12,000 (2024) |
Subsidiaries | Puma Energy, Nyrstar, Galena Asset Management, Impala Terminals, Nala Renewables |
Website | trafigura.com |
Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. is a multinational commodities company domiciled in Singapore, with major regional hubs in Geneva, Houston, Montevideo and Mumbai, founded in 1993. The company trades in base metals and energy. It is the world's largest private metals trader and second-largest oil trader having built or purchased stakes in pipelines, mines, smelters, ports and storage terminals.
Trafigura was formed by Claude Dauphin and Eric de Turckheim in 1993 but quickly split off from a group of companies managed by Marc Rich.
Trafigura has been named or involved in several scandals, particularly the 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump (which left up to 100,000 people with skin rashes, headaches and respiratory problems) and the Iraq Oil-for-Food Scandal.
History
Trafigura Beheer BV was established as a private group of companies in 1993 by six founding partners: Claude Dauphin, Eric de Turckheim, Graham Sharp, Antonio Cometti, Daniel Posen and Mark Crandall.
Initially focused on three regional markets – South America (oil and minerals), Eastern Europe (metals) and Africa (oil) – Trafigura has since diversified and expanded globally. In 1999, the Trafigura unit Trafigura Beheer BV, based in the Netherlands, became the first company to obtain a contract to sell Sudan's oil internationally.
In November 2013, it was announced that Tory peer and former leader of the House of Lords Baron Strathclyde, Thomas Galbraith would be joining Trafigura as a non-executive director. He had previously stood down from the board of the group’s hedge fund arm following the 2009 controversy over the Côte d'Ivoire incident.
Executive chairman Claude Dauphin, the last remaining founder in an executive position, owned less than 20 per cent of the group’s equity at his death in September 2015, while more than 700 senior managers controlled the rest. Dauphin was succeeded by Jeremy Weir, who, in 2025, will assume the role of Group Chairman, while Richard Holtum will take the helm as CEO as of January 2025, according to the company's succession plan. Holtum is a 10-year veteran of the firm, and its global head of gas, power and renewables, who will join Trafigura's board of directors in October 2024.
Trafigura operated in 65 offices from 36 countries as of 2015. In 2023, revenue was $244.3 billion, net income was $7.4 billion, assets were $90.5 billion, and equity was $16.5 billion. In 2024, the company had around 12,000 employees operating in 150 countries, with 50 offices, and is wholly owned by about 1,400 of its employees.
In October 2024, the company reported that individuals in its Mongolian petroleum products supply business had, over a five year period, concealed overdue debts and manipulated data, resulting in inflated sums paid by the company. Local regulations require international fuel supplier deliveries to stop at the border, necessitating local operatives for deliveries to the domestic market. The trader is recording a provision of $1.1 billion resulting from the misconduct by staff in its Mongolian office.
Investments
In 2003, the group established its fund management subsidiary, Galena Asset Management. In 2010, Trafigura bought 8% of Norilsk Nickel.
In 2007, an explosion in Sløvåg Gulen, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway in a tank owned by the company Vest Tank [no] had severe environmental and health consequences for people living nearby. According to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Vest Tank was trying to neutralize chemical waste when the explosion occurred, and the owner of the waste was Trafigura, on whose behalf Vest Tank was working. Trafigura was not accused of direct responsibility, and refused requests by the Norwegian police to interview employees.
In February 2013, Trafigura invested $800 million in the Australian energy market, acquiring more than 250 petrol stations, two oil import terminals and five fuel depots in three separate acquisitions by its subsidiary Puma Energy. At the time, there was interest in Australia among energy traders due to a combination of rising demand and the closure of outdated, high-cost refineries. The same month, Trafigura joint venture DT Group partnered with Angola’s state oil firm Sonangol to form a new company, Sonaci DT Pte Ltd, to market Angola’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
In March 2013, Trafigura announced a deal with South Sudan to export Dar Blend crude oil from Port Sudan. The agreement with South Sudan was a continuation of Trafigura's longtime presence in the Sudanese oil market and followed the resolution of a legal dispute between Sudan and South Sudan over transit fees and oil revenues.
In October 2013 Trafigura secured USD 1.5 billion in financing for an upfront loan to Russian oil producer OAO Rosneft. The prepayment facility, which provided a loan for advance payment for more than 10 million tons of products over five years, was the largest such deal ever completed by Trafigura.
A month later Trafigura signed an agreement with Dallas-based pipeline operator Energy Transfer Partners to transport crude oil and condensate via a partially converted 82-mile pipeline from the Eagle Ford oil field in McMullen County, Texas, to Trafigura’s deep-water terminal at Corpus Christi Bay, near the Gulf of Mexico.
In February 2014, Trafigura signed an agreement to acquire a 30% equity stake in the Jinchuan Group's newly established 400,000 tonnes-per-year copper smelter in Fangchengang, China. In July, Trafigura launched Lykos, an online platform in India to sell metals to small and medium-sized manufacturers in the country. In September, Trafigura completed the $860 million sale of an 80% stake in a Corpus Christi Texas oil storage terminal to Buckeye Partners LP.
In June 2015, Trafigura announced a 50:50 joint venture with Abu Dhabi investment company Mubadala Development Company—to invest in base metals mining. As part of the agreement Mubadala also acquired 50% of Trafigura's Minas de Aguas Teñidas [es] (Matsa) mining operation, which owns three mines in southern Spain that produce copper, zinc and lead concentrate ores. This followed a doubling of processing capacity at the company's MATSA mining operation in Andalusia, Spain, where two new satellite mines are also being developed.
In August 2015, it was reported that Trafigura subsidiary Impala Terminals is investing USD1 billion in Colombia to develop a new inland road, rail and river network connecting major coastal ports with Colombia's industrial heartland. The Magdalena River, which runs between Barrancabermeja inland and Barranquilla on the Atlantic coast, will allow transportation of crude oil and petroleum products, dry bulk, containerised and general cargo to and from inland Colombia.
In October 2016, it was announced that Trafigura and Russian investment group United Capital Partners would each take a 24 per cent stake in Essar Oil, which owns India’s second-biggest private refinery in the western state of Gujarat as well as a network of 2,700 filling stations.
Trafigura was criticised in December 2022 for handing out "more than $1.7bn (£1.4bn) to its top traders and shareholders after the energy crisis, fuelled by the war in Ukraine".
In 2022, the Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), a joint venture between Trafigura, Mota-Engil of Portugal, and independent Belgian rail operator Vecturis, secured a 30-year concession to operate the Lobito rail corridor, which runs across Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). To mark the transfer of the concession, a ceremony was held on 4 July 2023 in Lobito, with Presidents João Lourenço of Angola, Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC, and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia in attendance. The concession encompassed the 1,300-kilometre Benguela railway corridor in Angola, extending it 400 kilometres into the DRC, and any potential service extensions in Zambia. The three countries signed an agreement to accelerate growth in domestic and cross-border trade along the corridor. The new company committed to upgrading infrastructure and services, investing US$455,000,000 in Angola and up to US$100,000,000 in the DRC.
The Lobito Corridor project is considered a G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) flagship investment in Africa. LAR’s mineral terminal at the Port of Lobito launched the venture's port operations in Angola with the docking of the MV Lindsaylou on July 12, 2024, with sulphur on board to be transferred to LAR cargo trains for shipment to the DRC for use in refined copper production in the Katanga region.
On January 11, 2023, the company sold its 24.5% stake in the Indian company Nayara Energy, which was a joint venture with Rosneft. The share was bought by Hara Capital Sarl, a subsidiary of Mareterra Group Holding. In May 2024, it was announced that Trafigura was investing in the company Greenergy.
Bond issuances and reported earnings
In 2008, the company had equity of more than $2 billion and a turnover of $73 billion that generated $440 million of profit.
In March 2010, Trafigura made its first venture into capital markets, issuing Euro 400m ($539m) in five-year Eurobonds.
The following month Trafigura listed its first perpetual subordinated bond on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) at a fixed rate of 7.625%. The issuance raised $500m in long-term capital that is treated as equity by international accounting rules, leaving existing shareholders undiluted.
By 2011, its revenue had increased to $121.5 billion and its profits to $1.11 billion, with profits falling 11% in 2012.
In 2013, as a consequence of the Singapore listing, Trafigura released financial statements for the first time, reporting Q1 profits of $216.1 million – up 3.2 per cent on the previous year. Revenue grew 7.9 per cent to USD 31.2 billion.
In March 2016, Trafigura closed a 46 million yen ($413 million) three-year loan, doubling the size of its 2014 Samurai loan.
Activities
In 2024, Trafigura operated in 150 countries and had 50 offices.
Trafigura is the third-largest physical commodities trading group in the world behind Vitol and Glencore. Trafigura sources, stores, blends and transports raw materials including oil, refined petroleum products and non-ferrous metals, iron ore, and coal. It more recently added a third division, focused on gas, power, and renewables.
Trade in non-ferrous and bulk commodities – mainly copper, lead and zinc concentrate, alumina, refined metals of copper, lead, zinc and aluminium as well as the iron ore and coal trading books – made up 13% of Trafigura’s overall trading turnover in 2016. The group traded 8.2 million tonnes of non-ferrous metal concentrates and 6.6 million tonnes of non-ferrous refined metal during the year. Overall volume across metals and minerals increased by 13% from 2015 to 59 million tonnes.
Trading volumes in oil and petroleum products totalled 4.3 million barrels a day in 2016, up 42% from 3 million barrels a day in 2015.
In October 2016 Trafigura sold five medium-range tankers to China’s Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co, marking its exit from owning product tankers.
In support of its arbitrage-based business model, Trafigura ensures a degree of control over supply, storage and logistics through industrial subsidiaries: oil storage and distribution business Puma Energy, in which Trafigura holds a 49% interest.
Trafigura is involved in paper trading through its subsidiary Galena Asset Management, which was set up in 2003 to invest in commodity funds.
The company was named in the Iraq Oil-for-Food Scandal in connection with a Liberian-registered turbine tanker, Essex, that had UN approval to load Iraqi crude at Iraq’s main export terminal at Mina al-Bakr. The tanker was chartered by Trafigura Beheer BV. According to her captain, Theofanis Chiladakis, the Essex was 'topped off' at least twice, with a total of 272,000 barrels of crude, after UN monitors had signed off the cargo. This was on 13 May and 27 August 2001. Elf Aquitaine employees had first talked about this scheme in February 1998.
In February 2013, Trafigura Maritime Ventures Limited—the Malta-based subsidiary of Trafigura Maritime Logistics PTE Limited based in Singapore—and the oil trading arm of Total became involved in an oil price fixing controversy that led them to both be barred from the tendering process at the Enemalta oil purchasing board. Between 1999 and 2012, Enemalta paid the two companies $3.2 billion for oil, accounting for 70% of the oil purchased by Enemalta in that time period.
In May 2015, the Financial Times reported that Trafigura has become a major exporter of Rosneft crude oil from Russia despite sanctions. The company has seen a surge in such exports, almost 9 million barrels of crude in April 2015, mostly for Asian markets, financed by pre-pay oil deals in the form of short-term loans that are not subject to sanctions. While some commodity traders have been cautious dealing with sanctioned companies, Trafigura, which works with a number of global banks financing the oil deals, has found a reliable partner in Rosneft for global business.
In 2016, the Swiss non-governmental organisation Public Eye published the results of its investigation showing how traders – especially Trafigura – prepare and sell "African quality" toxic fuel to Africa, containing high levels of sulphur that causes particulate matter pollution, damaging human health. Subsequently, Ghana reduced the maximum limit of sulphur in imported diesel fuel from 3000 to 50 parts per million, from March 2017 (the European limit is 10 parts per million). Trafigura stated that the report was "misconceived" as they only supply legal fuel and that it is up to governments to set fuel specifications.
In November 2018 Global Witness asked the UK's Serious Fraud Office and the US authorities to investigate alleged ties between the Brazilian Operation Car Wash scandal and three oil trading companies, one of which was Trafigura. Trafigura is keeping the allegations "under review" and affirms that it "is taking the allegations ... seriously", but has denied that its management knew that payments would be used to make improper payments to employees of Petrobras.
Some 18 months later, in May 2020, the Guardian reported Trafigura was under investigation by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for alleged corruption and market manipulation relating to oil trading. Subpoenas demand information going back at least four years relating to "manipulation and corruption involving oil products and trading". It was unclear if the CFTC investigation was related to Operation Car Wash. In March 2024, Trafigura agreed to plead guilty and pay a fine of about $127 million to resolve charges of bribery of government officials in Brazil by former employees or agents during previous decades, after a series of DOJ probes into oil industry practices.
In April 2023, the Washington Examiner claimed that the American government is enabling the commodity trader to funnel money back to Vladimir Putin's inner circle.
In June 2024, Trafigura agreed to pay the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission $55 million to settle allegations of fraud, manipulation and impeding whistleblowers. As part of the agreement, Trafigura neither admitted nor denied the CFTC's charges, which dated back to 2014. Two CFTC commissioners took issue with the whistleblower component of the settlement.
On November 18, 2024, an indictment by the Office of the Attorney General in Switzerland was released, showing that the company had been charged with failing to prevent unlawful payments during 2009 to 2011. A trial is scheduled to commence December 2.
Waste dumping in Ivory Coast
Main article: 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dumpThe 2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump was a health crisis in Ivory Coast in which the Probo Koala, a ship registered in Panama and chartered by Trafigura, hired a local contractor to offload waste in Abidjan after refusing to pay a €1,000 per cubic metre surcharge imposed by Amsterdam Port Services to discourage waste disposal in the Netherlands. The local contractor, Tommy, improperly dumped the waste materials at as many as 12 sites in and around the city of Abidjan in August 2006. The gas caused by the release of these chemicals is blamed by the UN and the government of Ivory Coast for the deaths of 17 and the injury of over 30,000 Ivorians, with injuries that ranged from mild headaches to severe burns of skin and lungs. Almost 100,000 Ivorians sought medical attention after Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny offered free medical care in Abidjan’s hospitals to the city’s residents.
Trafigura maintains that the substance dumped consisted of "slops", or waste water from washing the Probo Koala's tanks. An inquiry in the Netherlands, in late 2006, confirmed the substance to consist of more than 500 tonnes of a mix of fuel, hydrogen sulfide and sodium hydroxide. After the start of the health crisis in Abidjan, the Probo Koala arrived at the port of Paldiski in Estonia where Trafigura permitted Dutch police onboard to conduct an investigation.
Trafigura denied any waste was transported from the Netherlands, saying that the substances contained only tiny amounts of hydrogen sulfide, and that the company did not know the substance was to be disposed of improperly. Trafigura officials, including Claude Dauphin and the company’s West Africa regional director, travelled to Abidjan to assist in the cleanup effort but were arrested and imprisoned by the Ivorian government. While its executives were being held, the company agreed to pay US$198 million for cleanup to the Ivorian government without admitting wrongdoing, and the Ivorian government pledged not to prosecute the company. Dauphin and his fellow executives were released following the settlement.
In 2008 a civil lawsuit in London was launched by almost 30,000 Ivorians against Trafigura. In May 2009 Trafigura announced it would sue the BBC for libel after its Newsnight program alleged the company had knowingly sought to cover up its role in the incident. In September 2009 The Guardian obtained and published internal Trafigura emails showing that the traders responsible knew how dangerous the chemicals were. Shortly afterward Trafigura agreed to a settlement of £30 million to settle the suit. In 2010 a Dutch court found Trafigura guilty of illegally exporting toxic waste from Amsterdam.
Alleged bribery of Angolan government officials
In December 2023, Trafigura and its former chief operating officer Mike Wainwright were accused by Swiss investigators of arranging roughly €5 million of bribes to an Angolan government official representing Sonagol, Angola's state oil company, between 2009 and 2011. Prosecutors allege that the funds allowed the official to secure eight ship-chartering contracts and one bunkering contract that resulted in profits of $143.7 million. As of December 2024, Trafigura, is facing increased scrutiny from its lenders following a series of scandals that have significantly impacted its earnings and reputation. The company recently uncovered a $1.1 billion fraud in its Mongolian oil division, which contributed to a steep decline in profits and dividend pay-outs. This incident follows a $600 million nickel fraud reported in 2023. The Mongolia scandal has triggered questions from risk committees at some of Trafigura's lenders, although it has not resulted in credit line suspensions. Banks have requested that Trafigura include an explanation of the Mongolian events and its remediation plan in the presentation for its upcoming European revolving credit facility. Trafigura's annual results revealed that the Mongolia scandal and regulatory fines cost the group more than $500 million this year, reducing net profits to $2.8 billion. The company has been forced to restate earnings for two prior years and revise down its equity value at the end of 2023 from $16.5 billion to $15.8 billion. In response to these issues, Trafigura has undertaken a compliance overhaul and is expanding its risk department. The company maintains that the Mongolia problem was isolated and discovered due to tighter risk controls implemented after the nickel fraud. Trafigura is also dealing with other legal and regulatory challenges. It reached a $127 million settlement with the US Justice Department in March, pleading guilty to a bribery scheme in Brazil. In May, it agreed to a $55 million settlement with US regulators over fraud and market manipulation charges. As the company prepares for a leadership transition, with Richard Holtum taking over as CEO on January 1, 2025, and Jeremy Weir becoming chairman, Trafigura faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and ensuring that its new compliance measures are sufficient to prevent future losses.
Brazil Bribery Case
On March 28, 2024, Trafigura pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with bribes paid to Brazilian officials. The company agreed to pay approximately $127 million to settle the U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The bribery scheme operated between 2003 and 2014, during which Trafigura paid bribes to Petrobras officials to secure and maintain contracts. The illicit payments amounted to up to 20 cents per barrel of oil products bought from or sold to Petrobras. These bribes were concealed using shell companies and intermediaries with offshore bank accounts. Trafigura's involvement in this case is connected to Brazil's largest political corruption scandal, known as "Operation Car Wash" or "Lava Jato". This is the first time Trafigura has admitted to being involved in the Car Wash scandal, although its rivals Glencore and Vitol had previously admitted to bribery in relation to the same scandal. Settlement Details The settlement includes: A criminal fine of approximately $80.5 million Forfeiture of $46.5 million in proceeds derived from the conspiracy Credit of up to $26.8 million for amounts paid to resolve a related Brazilian investigation. As part of the agreement, Trafigura is required to submit annual reports on its remediation efforts and implementation of compliance measures, as well as participate in quarterly meetings with the DOJ over a three-year period.
Other Legal Issues
In addition to the Brazil case, Trafigura is facing legal challenges in other jurisdictions: Switzerland: A court case involving alleged bribes to an Angolan official is ongoing. In December 2024, a Swiss court denied Trafigura's bid to dismiss this corruption case6. Mexico: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) ordered Trafigura to pay $55 million for fraud and manipulation related to the gasoline market in Mexico between 2014 and April 20191.
Corporate structure
Some of Trafigura's major international units include:
- Trafigura Beheer BV, based in the Netherlands.
- Impala Group of Companies, which operates the group’s worldwide oil storage and distribution assets and investments has been a wholly-owned subsidiary since 2001.
- Puma Energy, which operates in more than 20 countries, mainly in Central America and Africa, and supplies a network of just over 600 service stations. On 7 May 2012, Puma agreed to buy out the key shareholders in KenolKobil, the largest independent oil marketing company in east and central Africa, which could add 400 stations to its network. However, Puma Energy later terminated its bid to acquire the oil marketer.
- EMINCAR, based in Havana until 2010. Dedicated to consulting and mineral logistics administration.
- Galena Asset Management, based in Switzerland, is the subsidiary through which Trafigura has established and manages a fund management business. Lord Strathclyde, the leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords, is a non-executive director on the board.
See also
- Lobito Atlantic Railway, a joint venture including Trafigura
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Literature
- Ammann, Daniel (2009). The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich. New York: St. Martin‘s Press. ISBN 978-0-312-57074-3.
External links
- Official website
- Trafigura companies grouped at OpenCorporates
- Trafigura press releases regarding the Côte d'Ivoire waste dumping incident
- NRK Brennpunkt Trafigura and the Minton report
- Leigh, David. "The Trafigura files and how to read them". The Guardian, 16 September 2009. This introduces: Internal Trafigura emails and letters regarding the Côte d'Ivoire waste dumping incident (PDF file, 7.9 MiB). The Guardian.