Bunker trading?

Anybody on here a bunker trader?

Just got a job offer to jump. I’m coming off a desk that’s seen a ridiculous amount of vol the past 5 years and I’m looking for a slower pace. Seems like a chill old school job with decent upside but less stress.

Am I missing something?

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May i ask where/what desk you're currently working on and what your end goal would be?

I've previously worked in the bunker space, so am familiar. From my experience, bunker trading is not a relaxing job.
If you're trading at a company without physical supply, you're often competing against others who are receiving quotes from the exact same physical suppliers (so you must get them on your side). Depending on the market you work, you may be up at odd hours of the night trying to haggle for a few $/mt in order to make a decent commission or confirm supply etc. Not to mention the issues you face if your supplier screws up a delivery laycan or with offspec fuel (customer will be pissed etc). 
Travel/drinking would be a pre-req if you enjoy that. 

Comp wise not sure but i would think it to be similar to OTC broking in the sense that solid contacts/customers could have you making more than traders but the vast majority would not be doing so well. I have seen a few bunker traders/marketers go across to physical trading but from experience they lack the technical skillset to perform the job well (lack of operations/blending knowledge + paper). 

 

I worked on the marketing side for an oil major. Our company had a physical fuel oil position (tanks/barges) and bunker traders were the intermediaries between us (sales) and the ship owners. It really depends on what you're end goal is. For me (end goal physical trader) it doesn't provide a deep enough level of expertise to make you valuable to a trading company. Also my personality type probably doesn't suit it to make the top 1% (bit of an introvert and don't enjoy being out every night drinking/schmoozing). 

 

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