Palm Oil Trader

Job Purpose and Impact

The Palm Oil Trader will be responsible for managing and optimizing asset-backed palm oil trading activities, with a strong emphasis on end-to-end pipeline risk management. The role covers physical trading across sourcing, storage, logistics, and sales, ensuring effective margin optimization while managing price, operational, credit, and execution risks across the supply chain.

This position requires close coordination with operations, logistics, risk, and finance teams to align trading decisions with physical asset constraints and risk appetite.

Key Accountabilities

Asset-Based Trading

• Execute physical trading of crude palm oil (CPO), RBD palm oil, and related products aligned with owned or leased assets (mills, tanks, refineries, pipelines, ports).
• Optimize asset utilization (storage, throughput, pipeline capacity, vessel programs) to maximize trading margins.
• Develop trading strategies that leverage logistical optionality such as origin selection, blending, storage arbitrage, and timing flexibility.
• Manage position exposure in line with physical constraints and contractual obligations.

• Own and manage the end-to-end commodity pipeline, from procurement through in-transit, storage, processing, and final delivery.
• Monitor and control risks related to:
  • Inventory levels and quality
  • Shipment delays and operational disruptions
  • Losses, demurrage, and line-fill exposure
  • Title transfer and timing mismatches
• Ensure accurate visibility of stock, in-transit volumes, and contractual positions across locations.

• Exploring opportunities for waste oil flows from Indonesia to global markets.
• Connecting internal flows from our assets to different Cargill businesses
• Be on top of major policy changes in Indonesia and across various parts of world, specifically focusing on SAF and biofuel markets

• Identify and quantify price risks arising from physical positions and pipeline exposure.
• Execute hedging strategies using futures, swaps, and options to manage flat price and basis risk.
• Coordinate with risk management to ensure compliance with limits, VaR, and hedge effectiveness metrics.

• Originate, negotiate, and execute purchase and sales contracts with producers, refiners, traders, and end-users.
• Manage counterparty credit exposure in coordination with credit and finance teams.
• Develop and maintain strong commercial relationships across the palm oil value chain.

• Work closely with WTG/TDA/operations/ logistics/ quality, and shipping teams to ensure smooth execution of trades.
• Provide input into scheduling, pipeline planning, and asset maintenance from a trading and risk perspective.
• Support finance with PnL attribution, inventory valuation, and month-end close processes.

• Ensure trading activities comply with internal risk policies, sustainability requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain accurate documentation and deal capture for all transactions.

• Strong understanding of palm oil markets, including supply/demand dynamics, refinery economics, and logistics flows.
• Deep knowledge of physical trading economics, including freight, storage, quality specs, and incoterms.
• Proven ability to manage pipeline risk and complex physical positions.

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills for margin analysis, scenario modeling, and risk assessment.
• Ability to make sound trading decisions under time pressure and market volatility.

• Effective communicator with the ability to influence trading, operations, and risk teams.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.

• 5 - 10+ years of experience in physical commodity trading, palm oil and its derivatives
• Strong stakeholder management & relationship management skills to influence trading, operations and risk teams and customers in other regions and Indonesia. Proficiency in both English and Bahasa Indonesia is essential
• Prior experience in Indonesian palm oil markets
• Demonstrated experience in asset-backed or integrated trading environments.
• Bachelor's degree in business, Finance, Engineering, Economics, or a related field (MBA or CFA a plus).