The Donroe Doctrine and Commodities (emergency podcast) with Nick Kumleben

In this episode we return to Singapore and commodity trading in Asia. Is Singapore still a must -have hub as part of a global commodity footprint? What are the key commodities traded there? How do those markets differ from Europe and North America? How has the broader Asia-Pacific region fared over the last decade? And what are some of the key challenges, both market and cultural to doing there? And what might the future hold? Our guest is Ian Lawson, who's had a multi -decade career in trading and origination, including heading those functions in Singapore for the likes of BP and Mercuria and is now a senior advisor at Baringa, the management consultancy.

3 Dec 202551min

Today, in time for the US Thanksgiving, we discuss wine. From rare Burgundies to commodity wine that is shipped in containers and blended. What is wine? How is it made? What is the market structure and how has that changed with internationalization, changing tastes and climate change. And why is English wine ascendant? Our guest is Nick Brewer, former COO of Noble Group and ECTP and now founder and owner of Oastbrook Winery (where you can stock up for Christmas here https://oastbrook.com/online-shop/).

26 Nov 202558min

Today, we are talking agricultural markets and the case for investing in agricultural commodities, particularly in ETFS. And why that case is enhanced in the volatile world of today and the perhaps much more volatile world of the future. Our guest is Jake Hanley, Managing Director at Teucrium, a US -based ETF issuer with a specialisation in agricultural commodities.

19 Nov 202549min

Why don’t more energy & resource companies have trading arms? For that matter, why don’t more sectors trade? Chips, drugs even real estate? Why are CEOs reticent to set up trading platforms and what are the barriers to entry? What sectors would benefit most from trading? And more broadly, how have those firms who have launched trading arms in the energy and commodities trading sector fared over the last five years? How has this development both changed and shaped the opportunities out there? Our guest is Antti Belt, Partner at BCG, focused on commodities, and also a research fellow at the Henderson Institute. We are discussing his paper, alongside his colleagues, the hidden $3 trillion profit opportunity for CEOs, that by learning to think like traders and hedge funds, CEOs can tap value opportunities that are currently left on the table. To read the paper visit:https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/hidden-3-trillion-profit-opportunity-for-ceos

12 Nov 202555min

In Part 2, Mark Crandall relives the events that led to the founding of Glencore and Trafigura. Why did Claude Dauphin go his separate way and what was the founding vision for Trafigura? How had Marc Rich already set the vision for the trading houses which would lead to their domination? How has that dominance led to almost insurmountable barriers to entry for aspiring competitors today? And what was it about these singular individuals that led to their success?

5 Nov 20251h 2min

Our Global Our Middle & Back Office Salary Report 2025 is now available for purchase. Published by HC Group's Talent Intelligence team. the report covers salary benchmarks for Risk, Legal & Compliance, Corporate Finance (includes STF/Treasury), Finance & Accounting,Technology& Human Resources positions across all commodity trading hubs. The report, created using proprietary data, is designed for HR leaders and company officers to calibrate salaries in this competitive market as we head into business planning for 2026. For more information, visit https://www.hcgroup.global/energy-trading-report or email intelligence@hcgroup.global

31 Okt 20252min

Today, we're joined by Mark Crandall, one of the founding fathers of the modern trading house and the commodities sector as we know it today. Mark started his career at Morgan Stanley, where he helped launch its commodities desk, before joining Marc Rich & Co. Mark went on the have a pivotal role in, and ring-side seat to, the machinations that lead to the founding of Glencore and Trafigura. In Part 1, we cover his early career leading up to the famous split at Marc Rich & Co. We discuss the rise of the Wall Street Refiners and what made Marc Rich special and the company he founded shape the industry even today.

29 Okt 202552min

On October 1st, at HC Group’s Headquarters in London, host Paul Chapman interviewed Colin Bryce and Adi Imsirovic about their new book – Rivers of Money - in front of an invited audience of 100 friends, former colleagues and industry veterans. Why did they write the book, what stories and insights stand out and who received a pickled pig’s head at their desk (it later transpired the sender was in the audience)? Which other stories had to be left on the cutting room floor and what are the biggest risks the industry faces today and in the future? If you want to know about future events, sign up at https://www.hcgroup.global/newslettersignup

21 Okt 202530min