Tradewinds: Oil Storage Deals Boost Trader Duo

“Last year was big for Trafigura and Mercuria on the chartering front. Mega-energy traders Trafigura and Mercuria “catapulted” into the top-20 tanker list of dirty charterers in 2009, according to Poten & Partners. Their rise from 31st and 30th positions a year earlier to 16th and 18th, respectively, reflects the impact of tanker-storage fixtures on the spot market, it says. The US-based shipbroker logged 141 Trafigura fixtures, accounting for 2% of all activity. . .  . Mercuria was not far behind with 137 reported fixtures. Geneva-based Mercuria says it is one of the five largest independent energy traders. Last month, it confirmed the signing of a three-year agreement to continue supplying Polish refiner PKN Orlen with crude oil once an existing contract expired. Poten says the increase in floating-storage fixtures and subsequent increased presence of traders was a result of vessel deliveries and reduced crude-oil prices earlier in the year.”