Market Opinion on Exxon Global Trading
I’m curious what the general industry opinion is on Exxon’s Global Trading organization. From the outside, the growth looks pretty significant compared to where they were at launch ~2 years ago — doubling the London trading team, a major LNG footprint in Singapore, spinning up a prop power desk in Houston, and now the recent agreement to build a power plant in Texas. Seems like they’re expanding aggressively across barrels, LNG, and power.
But I’ve also heard some mixed things from people in the past:
• Lots of internal red tape
• Traders spending more time building decks to get approval instead of actually trading
• Compensation not really being “trader-style,” i.e., not tied to P&L the same way it is at merchants or funds
Is this perception still accurate? Or has the culture changed as Global Trading matures and becomes more independent from the upstream/downstream business units? Curious how people inside the space view their trajectory — is Exxon becoming a real competitor to the big merchants, or still too bureaucratic to fully compete?
Would appreciate any insight from people who’ve worked there, competed with them, or interviewed recently.
ExxonMobil's Global Trading organization has indeed been expanding aggressively, as highlighted in your observations about their growth in London, Singapore, Houston, and their ventures into LNG and power. However, based on the most helpful WSO content and industry insights, the perception of ExxonMobil's trading culture and trajectory remains mixed. Here's a breakdown:
Strengths:
Challenges:
Current Trajectory:
While ExxonMobil is making progress, the consensus from WSO discussions suggests they are still not on par with the big merchants. The bureaucratic nature of the organization and its conservative approach to risk remain significant barriers. However, as the trading arm matures and potentially gains more independence from the upstream/downstream units, there is room for improvement.
Outlook:
ExxonMobil's trading organization has potential, but to truly compete with the likes of BP, Shell, and Vitol, they will need to: - Streamline decision-making processes and reduce internal red tape. - Offer more competitive, P&L-tied compensation structures to attract and retain top talent. - Foster a more entrepreneurial and risk-tolerant culture.
For now, they are seen as a growing player but not yet a dominant force in the trading space.
Sources: Commodity Trading is Dead, ExxonMobil trading, Oil&Gas controller vs. restructuring consulting, can someone give me insight on the culture at a physical trading house (vitol, trafigura, mercuria)
They have a prop power desk in Houston?
When did the desk start and who’s it led by?
Just started. Couple of shell guys
I’ve not heard good things about it. No bonuses for many traders still. Canada office in total disarray with plan to shutter Calgary. It’s still a clear pecking order with Exxon junior talent fleeing in droves to other shops to gain better career opportunities.
Exxon is a good stepping stone, but not a good career-making firm. Too stingy with bonuses, don't like taking risk, more interested in owning assets as opposed to trading. They do have a pension, but wouldn't make sense to get into trading for that. They're also always starting and stopping their trading business, so wouldn't buy the hype about it. Use it to get to a better major like Shell or BP.
They’ve become a de facto junior talent pipeline into companies that are looking for related experience from high potential people in the sector (after all many were hired as engineers into Exxon) but who might not have a commercial mindset yet. Lots of Exxon guys getting into analyst jobs at hedge funds and other physical traders.
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