KNOWLEDGE HUB

Resources for Energy & Commodities Traders

Market insights, trading guides, and reference materials to help buyers and sellers navigate global oil and energy markets with confidence.

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GUIDES

Trading Guides

Practical reference material for participants in global oil and commodities markets.

Crude Oil5 min read

Understanding Crude Oil Benchmarks

A breakdown of the world's major crude oil benchmarks — Brent, WTI and Dubai/Oman — including how they are priced, where they trade and why the spread between them matters.

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Brokerage6 min read

How Oil Brokerage Works

An overview of the role a commodity broker plays in connecting buyers and sellers, structuring deals, managing documentation and ensuring smooth execution from mandate to delivery.

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Documentation7 min read

Key Documents in an Oil Trade

From the LOI and ICPO to the SPA and SGS inspection reports — a plain-language guide to the documents that govern a physical oil transaction.

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Logistics5 min read

Incoterms in Commodity Trading

CIF, FOB, CFR, DES — what each delivery term means, who bears the risk and cost at each stage, and how to choose the right term for your deal.

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Natural Gas6 min read

Natural Gas Market Fundamentals

An introduction to global natural gas markets: LNG vs pipeline gas, key pricing hubs (Henry Hub, TTF, JKM), and the factors that drive supply and demand.

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Compliance8 min read

Due Diligence in Commodity Transactions

How to verify counterparties, assess mandates and avoid common fraud patterns in the oil and commodities trading space.

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DATA SOURCES

Market Reference

Key benchmarks and data sources used by energy traders worldwide.

Brent Crude (ICE)

Global benchmark for two-thirds of the world's internationally traded crude oil.

WTI Crude (CME/NYMEX)

The primary benchmark for US crude oil and a key global price reference.

Platts (S&P Global Commodity Insights)

Industry-standard price assessments and market intelligence for energy commodities.

OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report

Monthly analysis of global oil supply, demand and market conditions from OPEC.

IEA Oil Market Report

Monthly oil market analysis and forecasts from the International Energy Agency.

EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report

Weekly US crude oil and petroleum product inventory and production data.

TERMINOLOGY

Glossary of Key Terms

Common terminology used in oil, gas and commodities trading.

Barrel (bbl)

The standard unit of measurement for crude oil. One barrel equals 42 US gallons or approximately 159 litres.

Cargo

A shipment of crude oil or refined products, typically carried by a tanker vessel. Cargo sizes vary by vessel class.

CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight)

A delivery term where the seller covers the cost of goods, insurance and freight to the named destination port.

FOB (Free On Board)

A delivery term where the seller's responsibility ends once the goods are loaded onto the vessel at the origin port.

ICPO

Irrevocable Corporate Purchase Order — a formal document issued by a buyer confirming intent and ability to purchase a commodity.

LOI (Letter of Intent)

A document expressing a party's intention to enter into a transaction, typically issued before a formal contract is signed.

SGS Inspection

An independent quality and quantity inspection of a cargo, typically conducted by SGS or a similar third-party inspection firm.

SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement)

The binding contract between buyer and seller governing the terms of a commodity transaction.

Spot Market

The market for immediate or near-term delivery of a commodity, as opposed to forward or futures contracts.

Tanker Classes

Vessel size categories: VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier, ~2M bbl), Suezmax (~1M bbl), Aframax (~700K bbl), MR (Medium Range, refined products).

LET'S TALK

Have a Deal to Discuss?

The team is available to answer questions, assess mandates and connect you with the right counterparties.