Trading
4.1 million metric tonnes of petroleum products and liquid gases in 2021
Trading Activities
Strategy
The Group’s growth strategy is focused on sustainable energy commodities and projects, implemented through geographical expansion in new markets, product diversification, and acquisitions.
Geographical Expansion
While we are determined to maintain a leading position in the key markets where we historically trade, our goal is to fuel further growth through geographical diversification in new markets for both Crude Oil and petroleum products. We have grown our offices in Houston and Belgium by hiring traders and business developers specialized in Crude Oil and petroleum products.
Our trading activities have expanded to the US West coast domestic and export business; in addition, we gained foothold in North Africa & West Africa.
We continue to develop trading activities between countries in South East Asia.
We have further expanded our trading flows into and from selected African countries such as Angola, Libya, Algeria, Rwanda, Nigeria, Zambia, and Congo.
Product Diversification
From our historical portfolio of Crude Oil and petroleum products, we are now covering all major components of the barrel and have been trading LPG and LNG in the last few years, in addition to niche products.
We have increased our portfolio of Crude Oil by trading new grades in new geographical regions. We have also expanded our presence in Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) with long-term agreements in the Eastern and Western hemisphere.
In 2016, we established an LNG trading desk to develop this new product line by hiring dedicated personnel
On the back of the launch of the Belgium office in 2020, we are now active in trading niche products that are tailored to the requirements of the smaller customers in the European market.
Trading Review
Total traded volumes in 2021 were approximately 4.1 million mt representing circa 100% volume growth compared to previous period.
ESTA’s volume of products traded during 2021 is as follows (in millions of mt):
Our core products are Crude Oil, Middle Distillates (Gasoil/ULSD and Jet Fuel) and Gasoline, followed by Fuel Oil and others.
Most of the remaining products are Naphta and Condensate, and small quantities of specialty products.
Crude Oil
Expansion of our Crude Oil trading activities
ESTA trades a wide range of grades from different geographic regions. Crude Oil is sourced primarily from the Far East and the Middle East, as well as North Africa and with good volumes coming out of West Africa.
In 2021 our Crude activity showed a continued growth with focus on new grades and new geographic regions.
The Far East and the Middle East are the main areas of destination of our Crude Oil in 2021, while maintaining a solid presence in the Mediterranean.
The Crude Oil desk also continued its growth by increasing the turnaround of its storage in the U.S. In addition, trading volumes in Singapore are maintained by the blending business of Crude Oil into very low sulfur bunker Fuel Oil.
Middle Distillates
A leading player in the Middle Distillates market
The Group’s global network of Middle Distillates is made up of a wide range of products with Gasoil/ULSD representing the largest share, followed by Jet Fuel.
Apart from its core presence in the Mediterranean area and Middle East, the Group now can consider the Africa as part of its core presence due to the consistent growth achieved in the last few years.
The Group’s arbitrage and logistical capabilities ensure consistent and timely fulfillment of the customer’s requirements.
Gasoline
Diversifying into new markets
In a very competitive environment, we maintained our market share by lever- aging on our downstream system in the Eastern Mediterranean and acted as swing suppliers for the African and Arabian Gulf markets.
TThe Group entered in previous years the NWE market where it has storage and blending operations and continues to expand on its presence. The Group has increased its work- force in the US to grow further in both the East and West Coast markets.
Fuel Oil
A niche player in a changing market environment
We have been one of the Fastest Growing Fuel Oil traders in the Mediterranean. In more recent years, our Fuel Oil activities have been limited to a few countries still highly dependent on this product for their power generation and/or industrial needs.
Trading opportunities have since expanded through term supplies in other territories as diverse as the Africa, the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian subcontinent.
As we continuously work to diversify our portfolio to include lower carbon fuels, Fuel Oil traded volumes have reduced considerably.
LNG and LPG
Developing liquid gas trading
LNG
ESTA has developed an LNG/LPG trading desk with a dedicated team of experienced professionals and entered into a number of MSA’s with leading international and national LNG/LPG producers and suppliers.
The Group concluded its first LNG cargo in 2016 followed by other global deals.
ESTA started trading LPG in 2017 and is one of the fastest growing LPG suppliers to Bangladesh
LPG
ESTA has developed an LNG/LPG trading desk with a dedicated team of experienced professionals and entered into a number of MSA’s with leading international and national LNG/LPG producers and suppliers.
The Group concluded its first LNG cargo in 2016 followed by other global deals.
We are approaching the LNG market with a strict risk management policy with the aim to gradually expand into the LNG global marketplace.
ESTA started trading LPG in 2017 and is one of the fastest growing LPG suppliers to Bangladesh
Base Oil
An established player in a niche sector
The company has access to all major Base Oil producers, refineries and distributors on a world-wide basis which ensures it can meet all requirements for any sort of Base Oil.
Bitumen and Additional Products
Fast growing trader in Bitumen
Bitumen
We are a key player in the trading, transportation and distribution of Bitumen in the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Arabian Gulf. By bridging the gap between demand markets and suppliers, ESTA has crucially been able to form strong partnerships with both sides.
Additional Products
We continually strive to identify opportunities and relationships that complement our core business offerings. This can typically be paraffinic Naphtha and Condensate and small quantities of specialized oil products.
Summary of Products
We trade all the components of the barrel, as well as specialized oil products and gas, to meet our clients’ needs, such as:
