Raw materials, 2022 is a boom year for unknown operators in the sector
The India Company, the apical point of many more or less unknown investors, in the seventeenth century it had the monopoly of many commercial activities in various parts of the world. Today something similar happens with another company, almost invisible, which has a monopoly on the rich raw materials in the world. A heterogeneous group made up of colossal operators in the sector such as Glencore, Trafigura, Vitol, then big financial and investment banking companies.
In 2022, an unstable and unique year of wars, energy crises and inflation, the “invisibles” of the commodity business earned over 115 billion dollars, a third more than the 2018 result. According to a complete summary made by the consultants of the American Oliver Wyman, the big commodity companies were able to enjoy the best moments of volatility and, intelligently, they took advantage of them. The economic results are truly significant: $115 billion in 2022, more than double the profit made in 2009, the year of the commodity boom.
Raw materials, the “invisibles” have gained on everything
In times of turbulence (oil, natural gas and electricity) like last year, the “invisibles” have gained on everything. With oil, gas and electricity alone, the increased and estimated earnings were between 55% and 90%. But the gains also came from minerals and metals (18%), liquefied natural gas (11%) and food (5%). And the green transition has been another major opportunity for commodity companies. Copper and nickel operations have grown exponentially. The new diamonds, namely lithium and cobalt, fundamental in the production of batteries for electric cars, are increasingly sought after. And the green versions of traditional metals offer more and more opportunities in the sector.
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