Oil traders made billions in 2019 as conflict shook the market

Several of the world's biggest commodity traders and fossil supermajors made record profits 2019 by playing clever hands in an unstable energy market year characterized by supply problems, Middle East conflicts, sanctions as well as maritime enterprises scurrying to prepare for the IMO2020 sulfur rules taking effect on Jan. 1.

Photo: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

JAVIER BLAS, BLOOMBERG NEWS

The world’s largest energy traders enjoyed one of their best ever years in 2019 as pipeline outages, dramatic changes in ship fuel regulations and Middle East conflicts shook up the global oil market.

Already a subscriber?Log in here

Read the whole article

Get access for 7 days for free. No credit card is needed, and you will not be automatically signed up for a paid subscription after the free trial.

With your free trial you get:

Access all locked articles

Receive our daily newsletters

Access our app

Get full access for you and your coworkers

Start a free company trial today

Maersk raises fuel surcharge for customers following large price hikes
IMO reports "smooth" transition to new sulfur regulation
For subscribers
Media: China lifts tax on export of low-sulfur fuel oil
For subscribers

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

Newsletter terms

Front page now

Container

Liner companies pay soaring sums for charter deals

With fewer and fewer large ships available, container lines are willing to pay sky-high prices to charter ships that are delivered during 2025.

Record influx of container ships this year will not cause trouble until 2025

Congestion in Asian ports is now as bad as during Covid

For subscribers

Halvor Sveen is chief executive of Oslo-based shipping bank Maritime & Merchant. | Foto: Marine Money/Oscar May

Suppliers

Maritime & Merchant notes fierce competition in loans for shipping

For subscribers

The penal code provision on trespassing is used when someone enters private property without permission. | Photo: Jens Dresling/Ritzau Scanpix

Container

Multiple arrests as protestors block entrance to Maersk HQ

For subscribers

Offshore

Maersk Supply Service aims to quadruple profits

For subscribers

Chief executibe of Wallenius Wilhlemsen Lasse Kristoffersen, and chief executive of Höegh Autoliners Andreas Enger. | Foto: Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Javad Parsa

Carriers

Norwegian car carriers bag multi-year contracts

For subscribers

Logistics

Packed container ships trigger surge in air freight demand

For subscribers

Record influx of container ships this year will not cause trouble until 2025

The number of container ships is growing at record speed, but will not cause serious overcapacity until 2025, according to Bimco.

For subscribers

Gilbert Walter is new chairman of shipbroker BRS. | Foto: BRS

Shipbroker BRS appoints Gilbert Walter as chairman

While Francois Cadiou steps down from the role he has held for four years, he remains a newbuilding broker in Paris for the company

For subscribers

Spot prices for container freight continue to rise

This marks the 12th consecutive week that spot prices for containerized freight are increasing.

Foto: Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

IMO's fossil fuel ban in the Arctic faces criticism

On July 1, the use and transportation of heavy bunker oil by ships in the Arctic will be banned. A climate organization now accuses the ban of being full of loopholes.

For subscribers