Cargo Trader

Peninsula; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Peninsula is seeking an experienced Oil Products Trader to focus on origination, execution and optimization of physical oil trades. You will identify market opportunities, leverage arbitrage and maximize profitability while ensuring adherence to risk limits and internal policies.

You will collaborate with Procurement, Chartering and Operations to optimize assets, manage pricing risk with the Hedging Desk, and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and trading partners.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in physical trading of oil products (Residual and Distillate Fuels preferred).
• Deep understanding of global oil markets and arbitrage dynamics.
• Strong commercial acumen with strategic and analytical thinking.
• Excellent negotiation skills; persuasive and influential.
• Exceptional teamwork and communication across functions with ownership and accountability.
• Knowledge of blending parameters and ISO 8210 specs.

Responsibilities

• Execute and manage physical oil trades from origination through delivery, aligning with strategy and risk limits.
• Identify arbitrage opportunities across global markets.
• Maintain and expand relationships with suppliers, customers, and trading partners.
• Analyze market conditions, fundamentals, geopolitics, and market structure to inform strategies.
• Collaborate with Chartering and internal teams to optimize shipping assets and trade economics.
• Work with Hedging Desk to manage pricing risk and margins.
• Share market intelligence to maximize global trading opportunities.
• Ensure trades comply with internal risk management and credit policies.
• Foster collaboration with Procurement and Operations for shared assets and synergies.

Skills

Physical trading

Arbitrage

Market analysis

Negotiation

Teamwork

Ownership

CRM systems

MS Office

Residual fuels

Distillates

Tools

MS Excel

CRM systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Oil Products Trader to focus exclusively on the origination, execution, and optimization of physical oil trades. This role is centred on identifying and capturing market opportunities, leveraging arbitrage, and maximizing profitability through strategic trading decisions. While the trading function operates independently from Peninsula’s Procurement function, collaboration is essential to optimize shared assets and deliver maximum value. Strong teamwork, communication, and relationship-building skills are critical to success.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execute and manage physical oil trades from origination through delivery, ensuring alignment with company strategy and risk limits.
• Identify and capitalize on arbitrage opportunities across global markets.
• Maintain and expand relationships with counterparties, including suppliers, customers, and trading partners.
• Analyse and interpret market conditions, fundamentals, geopolitics, and market structure to inform trading strategies.
• Collaborate with Chartering and other internal teams to optimize shipping assets and enhance trade economics.
• Work closely with the Hedging Desk to manage pricing risk and optimize trade margins.
• Share market intelligence internally to maximize global trading opportunities.
• Ensure all trades comply with internal risk management and credit policies.
• Foster strong collaboration with Procurement and Operations teams when shared assets or synergies can create additional value.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience in physical trading of oil products (Residual and Distillate Fuels preferred)
• Deep understanding of global oil markets and arbitrage dynamics.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to think strategically and analytically.
• Excellent negotiation skills; persuasive and influential, able to make quick, informed decisions.
• Exceptional teamwork and communication skills to collaborate across functions, combined with the ability to work independently with high ownership and accountability.
• Ambitious, self-motivated, and committed to continuous learning and development.
• High level of computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Office and CRM systems.
• Knowledge of residual and distillate fuel pools, feedstocks, and key parameters involved in blending, as well as ISO 8210 specifications.