GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — Switzerland-based energy giant Vitol Group is preparing to return to grain trading after scaling down its agricultural business six years ago, according to a Bloomberg report.
The return of the world’s biggest oil trader to agricultural trading comes at a time when extreme weather and the war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s biggest grain exporters, has caused great volatility in the grain market.
Vitol is hiring grain traders in Geneva, Switzerland, and Houston, Texas, US, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source.
Vitol previously was involved in grain trading for three years before exiting the business in 2016.
Vitol was founded in 1966 with a focus on trading crude oil and oil products. Vitol charters tankers and moves crude oil and oil products. Products include gasoline, diesel, heating oil, fuel oil, jet fuel, naphtha and metals, ethanol and chemicals. The company also pipes gas, fills and operates terminals, and ships coal and biofuels.