Freight Trader

Key Responsibilities

• Market Analysis & Intelligence: Actively track and analyze global/regional freight markets, trade flows, fleet deployment, tonnage supply, and macroeconomic drivers to identify arbitrage and trading opportunities.

• Commercial Trading & Position Management: Source, structure, and execute dry bulk/tanker freight transactions (voyage and time charters) to optimize portfolio risk-reward and generate trading margins.

• Counterparty Network Development: Cultivate and leverage strong commercial relationships with shipowners, charterers, operators, commodity traders, and shipbrokers globally.

• Contract Negotiation & Execution: Negotiate competitive freight rates, demurrage rates, charter party terms, and specialized contractual clauses (e.g., BIMCO clauses) to safeguard trade margins.

• FFA & Risk Management: Monitor freight price exposure and utilize Freight Investor Services/Freight Derivatives (FFAs, bunker hedging, options) to hedge physical freight exposure or capture speculative market moves, where applicable.

• Voyage Economics & Deal Evaluation: Calculate detailed voyage estimates (laytime/demurrage, bunker consumption, port costs, canal tolls) to evaluate potential deals and maximize voyage earnings ($/day).

• Cross-Functional Operations Alignment: Collaborate closely with Post-Fixture Operations, Laytime Analysts, and Risk teams to manage operational execution, resolve disputes, and ensure smooth charter performance.

• Portfolio & Pipeline Tracking: Maintain accurate and real-time records of trade positions, open freight exposure, vessel availability schedules, and client communications using internal trading software and shipping intelligence tools.

• Business Development: Expand the trading footprint across target geographies (e.g., Asia-Pacific, Atlantic/Pacific basins) by onboarding new trading counterparties, cargo owners, and tonnage providers.

• Industry Representation: Serve as a brand ambassador at key maritime events, client engagements, and industry conferences to reinforce market presence.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Diploma in Maritime Studies, Business, Economics, Finance, Logistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Professional Experience: 3–7 years of proven experience in freight trading, physical chartering, or commercial shipping desk roles within a commodity trading house, shipowning firm, or operator.
• Domain Knowledge: Deep understanding of global maritime trade flows, charter party agreements (GENCON, NYPE, Shelltime, etc.), vessel economics, and freight pricing dynamics across relevant vessel classes (Dry Bulk: Capesize/Panamax/Supramax OR Wet: VLCC/Suezmax/Aframax/MR).
• Commercial & Analytical Acumen: Strong financial and numerical literacy; proficient in freight calculations, voyage estimation, and risk/reward assessments.
• Derivatives & Hedging (Preferred): Familiarity with FFA (Paper Freight) trading, bunker hedging strategies, or broader commodity derivative markets is highly advantageous.
• Negotiation & Relationship Building: Proven track record in closing high-value commercial transactions and building long-term counterparty trust under dynamic market conditions.
• Operational Agility: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple fast-moving fixtures, complex logistics, and time-sensitive market decisions simultaneously.
• Mindset: Proactive, commercially driven, and comfortable operating in a high-intensity, international, real-time trading environment.

Chan Chee Meng
EA 07C3069/R1110620