CommodityTradingHubs. Singapore
CommodityTradingHubs. Singapore
CommodityTradingHubs. Singapore
COMMODITY
TRADING HUBS
Singapore’s role and proposition
The business of commodity trading has grown dramatically over recent decades.
This paper outlines the underlying reasons for this growth, the vital role
commodity trading plays in the global economy and the benefits this brings to
participants and the wider society. It details the nature of commodity trading
activities and explains how they are typically organised to achieve greatest
effectiveness. Along with the rise in Asia’s share of commodity production
and consumption, the paper provides further insight on the role and
benefits of commodity trading hubs within the region and Singapore’s
prime position to support the needs of growing economies across Asia.
Contents
01 10
Executive summary Section 4:
Hubs provide a critical ecosystem
02 for commodity trading
Section 1:
Commodity trading plays a vital role 12
in the global economy Section 5:
The role of commodity
04 trading hubs in Asia
Section 2:
Different ways for industrial companies 14
to participate in commodity trading Section 6:
The Singapore proposition
07
Section 3:
Why companies organise trading
activities in centralised units
IE Singapore acknowledges the support received from Oliver Wyman in the preparation of this report.
While every effort is made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate, the information is
provided by IE Singapore to you without any representation or warranty. Any reliance on the information
in this document is at your own risk. Neither IE Singapore nor Oliver Wyman accepts any liability for
any errors, omissions or misleading information. IE Singapore, Oliver Wyman and their employees shall
have no liability and shall not be held responsible for any consequence arising from your reliance on any
information provided by us nor any actions taken or decisions made as a consequence of the results,
advice or recommendations set forth herein. You are advised to consult your own professional advisors. No
responsibility is taken for changes in market conditions or laws or regulations and no obligation is assumed
to revise this report to reflect changes, events or conditions, which occur subsequent to publication.
Executive summary
Each year around US$10 trillion of commodities are produced and consumed1. However
commodities are rarely produced and consumed in the same place or at the same time
- a complex value chain including refining, processing, storage and shipping is usually
required to get them to the right place.
Linking these value chain elements together is commodity trading. Commodity trading
enables the transition of commodities from the mine or field gate to the factory door
and end consumer. Commodity trading ensures the right product turns up in the right
place at the right time and at the lowest cost.
Commodity trading is distinct from the industrial activity of commodities firms. It has
a different economic model and different risks that need managing, and therefore
requires different types of skills. For that reason many companies put their commodity
trading activities in a standalone unit, forming a centre of excellence that pools skills
across trading, marketing, logistics and risk management. Centres of excellence are
often located in commodity trading hubs.
There are a number of commodity trading hubs around the world, including Chicago,
Houston, Geneva, London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. They offer critical
access to a participant-network of companies working in the commodity sphere which
allows business relationships to be built and transactions to be originated, and to the
sophisticated financial and legal infrastructure required for trading. In addition, they act
as a magnet for people with the specialist skills in commodity trading, and particularly
the right education and global language skills that companies need.
Asia’s share of global commodity production and consumption is rising and more
commodities are being traded during the Asian time zone. Singapore is playing an
important role as a commodity trading hub for Asia. By bringing more companies into
one place and facilitating trading, Singapore is helping to improve liquidity in the Asian
commodity markets. That adds value for everyone as commodity costs are reduced,
supply security is increased and better risk hedging options become available.
1 Source: UN COMTRADE, IMF Price data, USGS, Malaysian Rubber Board, MIT Economic Atlas, International Cocoa
Organisation, EIA, BP Statistical Review, Oliver Wyman analysis
1
SECTION 1
Commodity trading
plays a vital role
in the global economy
The commodities industry plays a critical role in the global economy. Each year
around $10 trillion of commodities are produced and consumed, across different
asset classes of energy, metals and agricultural products2.
Commodities are rarely produced and consumed in the same place or at the same
time. Production occurs in specific resource-rich locations that are often less
accessible and far away from major consumption centres. Consumption patterns
can quickly shift, as can production output in particular locations. Supporting this
global model of production and consumption is a complex value chain including
refining, processing, storage and shipping. This value chain ensures that the right
commodity is delivered to the consumer in the right form (e.g. the right quality
grade or mix), in the right place (e.g. at the ‘factory-door’ rather than thousands of
kilometres away) and at the right time (e.g. just-in-time to match seasonal or other
unexpected fluctuations in demand).
Linking these companies, and the broader value chain, is commodity trading.
Companies buy and sell the commodities they need in a global market place,
trading with those companies that can offer them the best terms. Amidst the
complexities of global demand-supply mismatches, commodity trading enables
great flexibilities to the way companies can buy (or procure) and sell (or market).
If supply from one source is disrupted, consumer companies can quickly turn
to other sources. If demand, and willingness to pay, suddenly rises from buyers
in another location, producers can shift where they sell and maximise margins
(Figure 1 provides an example of commodity trading in action). Likewise producers
can diversify their sales and give themselves more demand stability.
2 Source: UN COMTRADE, IMF Price data, USGS, Malaysian Rubber Board, MIT Economic Atlas, International
Cocoa Organisation, EIA, BP Statistical Review, Oliver Wyman analysis
2
Commodity trading
plays a vital role in
the global economy
This flexibility benefits not just industrial companies but also end consumers and
workers. In many countries, consumers may now be more assured that they have
access to energy, food and a whole host of other consumer goods all year round
without stoppages in supply and at relatively stable prices. This stability of demand
and supply through diversity of buyers and sellers means that companies can invest
with greater certainty and create more employment.
1 LOCATION
Source fuel oil from European refinery and
sell forward three months on Asian
benchmark to lock in price differential, then
ship it to India using spot-chartered vessel
3 BLEND
Blend with cutter
stock in tank to marine
fuel specifications
3* BLEND
2 TIME Alternatively, one
Keep residual fuel oil in could do the blending
storage for two months near in Singapore at on- or
refinery in Tamil Nadu (India) off-shore facilities
4 LOT
Take bunker fuel in smaller
ship to Singapore to supply
local barge ship operator
Voyage duration: 1 month
Accessible storage
Vessel terminal Client location
3
SECTION 2
Different ways for industrial
companies to participate
in commodity trading
Industrial companies that produce or consume commodities can participate in
commodity trading in different ways. At its very simplest, commodity trading is selling
when the commodity is ready for sale or buying when the commodity is required for
consumption. However many industrial companies are more sophisticated than this
and look to both plan ahead and improve margins through commodity trading.
Companies can choose from a range of commodity trading models. The choice of
model is driven by a range of factors including the companies’ broader business model
(including size and complexity of their product flows relative to their overall industrial
activity) and their risk appetite (e.g. some companies have minimal risk appetite and
use commodity trading to hedge out as many risks as they can whilst others have high
risk appetite and use commodity trading to enhance expected returns).
Figure 2 shows the most common trading models, arranged by level of sophistication.
All of these trading models starting from the basic stream-based trading model involve
marketing to customers and developing trusted relationships between the seller and
buyer. They also all include an element of logistics management such as route-planning
and coordinating real time movement of the physical commodity over road, rail and sea
to ensure efficient, timely delivery.
4
Different ways for
industrial companies
to participate in
commodity trading
+ Asset-based trading
(Trading optionalities and 3rd party volumes)
// Actively trade option value from flexibilities in production
and delivery processes
// Access to 3rd party volumes to create additional
optionality and trade other companies’ production
5
Different ways for
industrial companies
to participate in
commodity trading
Finally the proprietary trading model includes active risk taking on price
movements. This can include trading price arbitrage opportunities between
physical assets and paper derivatives.
Many companies are increasingly engaging in the full range of activities today.
The more sophisticated the commodity trading model, the greater the potential
revenue margin improvement, but also the greater the operational complexity
and risks incurred.
6
SECTION 3
Why companies organise
trading activities in
centralised units
Commodity trading is distinct from companies’ industrial activities. Not only are
different skill-sets required, but there are also major differences in the economic
model and the types of risks that need to be managed. Commodity trading is
often financed differently to industrial production, for instance making use of
commodity trade finance to lower funding costs. The major risks in commodity
trading include counterparty credit risk and other commodity price movement
risks, whereas in industrial activities operational and environmental risks are
much more prominent.
First, commodity trading critically involves building relationships with clients and
understanding their unique needs. Second, it is important to gather intelligence
on flows and to understand market demand and supply in order to structure
the deals accordingly to meet the clients’ needs. Third, commodity movements
need to be managed to ensure timely delivery and finally, the necessary legal
documentation needs to be arranged and a close eye kept on all these activities
to ensure that risk levels do not exceed limits. These activities are interlinked
and need to be located together to ensure the swift processing of time-sensitive
commodity transactions.
7
Why companies
organise trading
activities in
centralised units
8
Why companies
organise trading
activities in
centralised units
For these reasons many companies have put their commodity trading activities
into a separate and centralised unit. They may have one regional unit or, for
the largest global companies, units in each major time zone. These units are
centres of excellence for commodity trading activities. Typically they have their
own P&L which creates transparency for the company on the value-add of
commodity trading. They allow the risk exposures of commodity trading, which
are distinct from the risk exposures of industrial activities, to be isolated and
controlled by a dedicated trading risk management function. Trading units also
tend to have specific remuneration and HR models to attract and retain staff in
a global talent market.
9
SECTION 4
Hubs provide a
critical ecosystem for
commodity trading
Hubs provide a critical ecosystem comprising of the necessary infrastructure and
skill-sets required for commodity trading. The key attributes of a commodity trading hub
are listed in Figure 4.
Linked to this is the ability to hire the necessary skilled people for commodity trading.
It can be very difficult to find these people outside commodity trading hubs, and
particularly in the locations of production. The most skilled people in commodity
trading are globally mobile and attracted to the greater career opportunities offered in
commodity trading hubs. Commodity trading hubs must also offer a strong local talent
base, particularly with the right education and global language skills.
Commodity trading hubs need to provide stable legal, regulatory and tax frameworks
that provide necessary protections, the ability to arbitrate disagreements and the stability
to make long term business decisions. Since commodity trading is a relatively mobile
activity, commodity trading hubs need to be competitive, including in their fiscal policies.
Commodity trading hubs also need to offer a positive business environment that attracts
global companies and their staff and provides good transport links to key markets.
10
Hubs provide
a critical
ecosystem for
commodity trading
Finally, proximity to physical flows and infrastructure is important, and is the historical
reason why many of the largest global commodity hubs are located where they are today
(e.g. Chicago, Houston, Geneva, London, New York, Singapore and Hong Kong). Many
of these hubs have existed for many decades as a meeting point for commodity trading.
Different hubs may specialise in different commodity asset classes. For instance, Chicago
is a major hub for agricultural products, London for metals and Houston for energy trading.
A participant network
// Access to major buyers, sellers and decision makers in the
same place, enabling relationships to be built and business
opportunities found
// Access to a broader range of service providers to manage
elements critical to structuring a trade e.g. risk, legal and financial
Human capital
// Pools of diverse and highly-skilled human capital
// Attractive environmental, social and educational infrastructure
to attract and retain the best talent locally
11
11
SECTION 5
The role of commodity
trading hubs in Asia
In parallel with rapid economic growth across Asia, the region’s share of global
commodity consumption is rising and a growing proportion of commodity trading is
occurring during the Asian time zone.
Figure 5 below highlights the commodity asset classes that are now predominantly
produced, consumed and traded in Asia (e.g. over two thirds of major commodities
like coal and steel are now produced, consumed and traded in Asia). Even other
commodities that are predominantly produced outside Asia, like crude oil and liquid
natural gas (LNG), are seeing an increasing share of trading in Asia.
Commodity trading hubs in Asia have an important role to play in developing the
market liquidity of these ‘Asian’ commodities. Figure 6 highlights where the different
Aluminum
Thermal coal
70%
Copper
60% Steel
Iron ore
Sugar
50%
PGM
40%
Crude oil Oil products
30%
20% Coffee
Gas (NG)
10% Cocoa
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
12
The role of
the commodity
trading hubs
in Asia
commodity asset classes within the trading liquidity spectrum (that is, the ease of buying
or selling and the size of the relative price spread in the market between where people are
willing to buy or sell).
Many ‘Asian’ commodities tend to exhibit lower trading liquidity. By bringing traders
together and making it easier to trade, Asian trading hubs can increase the volume of
trading, which in turn improves liquidity and reduces the cost to trade. Beyond better prices
for buyers and sellers, more liquidity allows better derivative products to be created, which
producers and consumers can use to hedge commodity price fluctuations and other risks.
This creates benefits all the way through to the end consumer, resulting in lower and
more stable retail prices. Hubs also remain important for liquid markets, both in terms of
maintaining that liquidity and developing additional products and services (e.g. exchange
traded futures, OTC clearing etc.) that further enhance market efficiency. Most successful
hubs can effectively manage the entire range of commodities.
>1%
LNG (Asian) TYP
ICA
Met coal LP
Potential price improvement
ATH
Steel OF
from more liquid markets
Iron ore
EVO
LUT
Concentrates ION
FOR
Rubber CO
MM
Palm oil OD
ITIE
LNG (non-Asian) Thermal coal S
Sugar Grains
Finished metals (phys)
Oil products
Natural gas Finished metals
Power Crude
Precious metals
<0.1%
Asian-centric1 Global
13
SECTION 6
The Singapore proposition
Singapore has been involved in commodity trading for many decades. Over the years,
it has expanded into one of the world’s leading financial and commodity trading hubs
which provides the necessary infrastructure and skill-sets required by commodity
trading companies.
Its geographic location at the centre of Asian trade routes has long been a key
advantage and so is the participant-network that has developed in Singapore, with
the majority of the major global commodity producers, consumers and traders
present. Singapore has an added advantage of a hub that offers a neutral playing
field for commodity traders with no single producer or consumer who can dominate
the market. Singapore brings a broad range of participants together to create new
commodity trading opportunities and further deepen market liquidity. Combined
with a high quality of life, and a highly international, multi-lingual local employee
base (particularly in both English and Mandarin), Singapore offers a talent pool that
possesses the knowledge and cultural awareness to facilitate trading with the world’s
largest growing markets such as China, India and ASEAN.
Singapore has an ever stronger role to play in the evolution of global commodity
trading. By supporting the development of deeper and more liquid commodity
markets in the Asian time zone with products tailored around Asian needs, Singapore
is creating significant benefits not only for commodity traders but also in supporting
the needs of growing economies across Asia.
14
The Singapore
proposition
1 2
Participant network Human capital pool
// 60-80% of world’s top oil and gas, // #1 in Asia for quality of life
steel and metals, mining and agricultural
// “A trading business is all about traders.
commodities companies operating
To retain them you need the “soft” factors:
within a neutral jurisdiction
culture, lifestyle and quality of living”
// “The extensive network allows us – Asian oil marketer
to capture more market intelligence
// Culturally adaptive workforce fluent in
and optionality”
important business languages English
– Asian oil marketer
and Mandarin
// “Asia is the centre of consumption.
// “Singapore has a global and world-class
We want to be closer to our customers.”
talent pool for commodity trading”
– Global leading independent trader
– Major bulks producer
3 4
Financial and trading Legal, regulatory
infrastructure and tax framework
// #2 banking sector in the world with // #4 globally for contract arbitation
deep regional knowledge and dedicated
// “Singapore has a competitive edge
commodity teams
with its stability”
// “There’s a concentration of service providers – Asian metals trader
… they a re knowledgeable about the
// #1 in Asia for anti-corruption
commodity and the local market”
– Asian softs trader // “Singapore has a robust and
transparent institutional framework”
// 3rd largest
– Major bulks producer
– global FX market
– pool of RMB deposits
– global USD daily average FX turnover
5 6
General business Physical flows
environment and infrastructure
// Direct flights to 408 destinations // 10 million m3 of independent oil storage -
the largest amount in Asia
// “Being in the centre of Asia benefits
communication with our counterparts // “Physical infrastructure is important.
in Europe and Middle East” We can break bulk in Singapore”
– Asian LPG player – Asian natural gas producer
// Over 65% of global base metals and // 8 of 46 LME warehouses in Asia
80% of themal coal consumption
// “Being close to the tankage helps us
takes place within a 6 hour flight radius
manage our supply chain better”
– Global oil & gas marketer
15
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