SOCAR Trading

SOCAR Trading is an international commodities trading company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. SOCAR’s official company history says it was established in December 2007 as the marketing arm of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). It describes SOCAR Trading S.A. as a wholly owned subsidiary of SOCAR, the national oil company of Azerbaijan. The company presents itself as combining state ownership with the independence and international presence of a commodities trader based in Switzerland. The company’s original and continuing role includes marketing SOCAR crude oil exports. SOCAR Trading says it markets the bulk of SOCAR’s crude oil export volumes from Ceyhan, Turkey, while also developing third-party volumes through its trading system and commercial relationships. Its trading activities cover crude oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas, and environmental products. The company says it has developed trading capabilities in LNG and gas since 2017 and established a carbon trading desk in 2021. Its homepage describes it as the world’s biggest supplier of Azeri Light crude oil; this is the company’s own positioning claim. SOCAR Trading reports offices in five major trading hubs and says it has relationships with SWIFT and more than 40 banks in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The supplied materials do not name all of those office locations or detail specific customer markets. In addition to trading, the company’s public materials emphasize governance, compliance, and responsible business practices. It is part of SOCAR Group, whose parent company operates across multiple parts of the energy value chain.

SOCAR Trading was established in December 2007 as the marketing arm of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, it was created to market SOCAR’s crude oil exports and has since developed into an international commodities trading company. SOCAR Trading describes its ownership structure as a wholly owned subsidiary of SOCAR, while also emphasizing the independence and global presence associated with its Swiss base. A continuing element of the company’s business is the marketing of SOCAR crude oil export volumes from Ceyhan, Turkey. The company says it markets the bulk of these volumes and has developed third-party business by leveraging its system barrels and the experience of its traders. Its homepage specifically promotes SOCAR Trading as the biggest supplier of Azeri Light crude oil in the world; that wording is the company’s own claim rather than an independently substantiated ranking in the supplied evidence. The company’s activities expanded beyond crude oil marketing into a wider set of energy and environmental commodities. According to its official history, SOCAR Trading has invested in developing LNG and gas trading capabilities since 2017. It established a carbon trading desk in 2021, extending its stated capabilities into environmental products. The company’s current description lists crude oil, refined products, LNG, natural gas, and environmental products among its trading areas. SOCAR Trading reports that it has offices in five major trading hubs and relationships with SWIFT and more than 40 banks in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The available materials do not identify all office locations or provide a detailed account of the company’s customer base. SOCAR Trading is part of SOCAR Group, whose parent company operates across exploration and production, pipelines and exports, refining and petrochemicals, logistics and wholesale, and retail and distribution. The company’s public-facing governance materials describe oversight by a Board of Directors, senior management, and committees. They also state expectations concerning anti-corruption and refer to policies addressing areas including anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, modern slavery, conflicts of interest, and anti-bribery. These materials present governance and responsible business practices as part of the company’s operating framework.

• 2021

  Carbon trading desk established

• 2017

  Development of LNG and gas trading capabilities

• 2007

  Established as SOCAR’s marketing arm

An internationally present, SOCAR-owned commodities trading house with roots in marketing Azerbaijani crude exports and trading capabilities spanning crude, refined products, gas, LNG, and environmental products. Its homepage claims it is the biggest supplier of Azeri Light crude oil in the world.

• Crude oil

  Trading and marketing of crude oil, including SOCAR export volumes.

• Refined products

  Refined petroleum products are included among the company’s trading capabilities.

• LNG and natural gas

  The company says it has developed LNG and gas trading capabilities since 2017.

• Environmental products and carbon trading

  Environmental products are among the company’s trading areas; it established a carbon trading desk in 2021.

1. 1SOCAR Trading – The biggest supplier of Azeri Light crude oil in the worldsocartrading.com
2. 2About Us – SOCAR Tradingsocartrading.com
3. 3Governance – SOCAR Tradingsocartrading.com
4. 4Management – SOCAR Tradingsocartrading.com
5. 5SOCAR TRADINGwikidata.org