Global commodity trade under the spotlight at high level industry gathering in Lugano

The inaugural Global Commodity Trade Finance Conference convened in Lugano at the Lugano Convention Centre, on September 16, 2014.

The conference provided the opportunity for engagement and meaningful discussion between traders, financiers and policy makers on the leading issues impacting on global trade, with particular emphasis on the public and private sectors, and with discussions focussing on growth within the commodity market.

Held in partnership with the Lugano Commodity Trade Association (LCTA), the event reflected Switzerland’s role as one of the world’s leading hubs for commodities such as steel, base metals, carbon, oil and gas. Sponsored by a number of global and regional institutions and supported by leading industry bodies such as Swiss Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Camera di Commercio Cantone Ticino, British Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, it welcomed participation from leading trading companies such as Duferco, Shell International Trading, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, Gunvor and Trasteel, among others.

Such opportunities formed the basis for the day’s discussions, including an opening keynote address from noted expert Professor Craig Pirrong of University of Houston, who reflected on the impact of a proposed slowdown in Chinese growth on the commodity ‘super-cycle’, the emergence of trading hubs such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and the effectiveness of market regulation. Other issues up for debate included trading company perspectives on the availability of finance, technology solutions, opportunities in markets such as Africa and Latin America, the use of trade credit insurance, as well as focus on a number of specific soft and hard commodities.

Commenting on the significance of such a gathering, Jeff Ando, Associate Director and Head of Conference Production at GTR said “This is a rather exciting time in the global commodities sector, with much being discussed throughout the course of the day. Events such as this serve a key purpose in delving into the fundamental challenges currently posed to traders and companies alike, as well as highlighting the specific intricacies of a thriving hub such as Lugano.”

The conference was preceded by a special Gala Dinner, organised by the LCTA and held on the evening of Monday September 15, welcoming delegates to Lugano and setting the scene for a hugely productive day of high level discussions.