start a career in soft commodities trading: fertilizer vs rice trading

Dear all,

I have to possibility to work for a European soft commodities trading house, however I need to choose between fertilizer trading or rice trading. For the rice trading, I will be located in Geneva and trade in Africa. For the fertilizer trading job, I will spent my first year in Switzerland and Brazil. Once this training is done, my company will send me wherever they need me for a duration of 2 years per rotation. It could be Russia, Nigeria, France, Canada, India, South Korea (keep in mind that I can't choose the location).

Both jobs look great to me, however I feel that with the rice trading job, I will have more exit opportunities... I am afraid that if I start in fertilizer trading, it will be difficult to switch to a different soft commodity (in case I want to explore something different).

I am a little bit lost... Any idea what would be the smartest move?

11 Comments
 
ZalachenkoWhy do you want to trade any of those two products?

Because it beats sitting on the couch eating pringles?

 
ZalachenkoWhy do you want to trade any of those two products?

Are you kidding me?

Anyway OP...I'd go with Rice and then try to get into other grains down the road with Cargill or another similar firm...and dont go into it with "Exit Opp" mentality, try to kick ass and you wont have to worry about exit opps when you're making a buck a year doing something interesting.

 

Either is a smart move, but I think the fertilizer will give you more flexibility with exit opportunities: Monsanto, Mosaic, Vale, Americas Petrogas, etc. Rice gets you more rice.

Besides, Brazil is pretty awesome.

 

Do Rice for a while then work at your shop if you're good you'll end up back in Switzerland at Glencore or Traf who're bulking up their agricultures desk and you can move up pretty quick through the ranks. Don't worry as cahellfire mentioned if you're good there is no need for any exit opp, its a great end in itself.

 

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