Articles

Twenty years after one of the most notorious environmental disasters linked to a global commodities trader, UN experts say thousands of victims are still waiting for justice. For Nyrstar shareholders, the story of Probo Koala, raises a broader question: how many years should those affected by corporate conduct have to fight before accountability finally catches up? Twenty years is a long time. Long enough for corporate leadership to change. Long enough for settlements to be r

Nyrstar's zinc smelters are not fading industrial relics. They are quietly becoming some of the most valuable assets globally because of the critical minerals they can process. Try squaring that with the company's own narrative: a business apparently so unprofitable it needs state aid just to keep the lights on. A fresh piece of reporting out of Australia shows exactly why governments on the other side of the world are supporting Nyrstar's operations, even though they have no

Anyone who wants a clear, no-nonsense primer on what has recently happened in the Antwerp’ criminal proceedings involving Nyrstar should read a piece published by Discovery Alert, an Australian mining-news outlet with no obvious stake in the outcome. Their article, "Nyrstar Forgery Investigation in Antwerp: What Investors Should Know", does a rather good job of laying out, briefly and in plain language, the state of the legal proceedings and the weight of the three allegation

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation published a story that Belgian and European regulators, prosecutors and politicians would do well to read closely (see the original article via the button below). ABC News reports that Nyrstar Collective had warned Australian governments about exactly the pattern now playing out at Nyrstar's Port Pirie and Hobart smelters: public money flowing into a company controlled by commody giant Trafigura even as the trading house books extraordi

What occurred at Nyrstar is increasingly difficult to view as a one-off cycle of events. The sequence suggests a repeatable model rather than an isolated case. Developments surrounding a gold mining project in Ghana indicate that similar mechanisms may still be in use. This matters not only for interpreting the past, but also for current and future counterparties, including groups such as Korea Zinc, now acquiring parts of Nyrstar’s business. The Cuckoo Strategy: Enter, Weak

Nyrstar Zinc processing plant The True Cost of a Convenient Partner When governments or corporations need to move vast quantities of commodities quickly, few firms can match Trafigura’s global reach. The Washington Post recently reported that the U.S. administration selected Trafigura to execute Venezuelan oil sales because of its logistics network, financial capacity and speed of execution. But the article also highlights a deeper tension: Trafigura’s strength is repeatedly

Korea Zinc's ambitious $6.6 billion plan to build cutting-edge smelting infrastructure in the United States represents exactly the kind of investment Washington seeks. The strategy is clear: extract critical minerals domestically, reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains, and secure Tennessee's zinc operations as the foundation for American mineral independence. On paper, it's a win-win. In reality, it may be built on contested legal ground. A Foundation Built on Disputed Own

After acquiring Nyrstar’s U.S. assets from Trafigura, Korea Zinc is planning to invest $6.6 billion in building a state-of-the-art smelter allowing it to extract critical minerals. The operation includes acquiring Nyrstar's Tennessee mines and smelter from Trafigura, alongside the U.S. This in an effort to allow the U.S. to regain independence from China in the critical minerals market. But there's a critical risk: Trafigura may not be legally in position to sell what it inte

When De Tijd highlighted zinc’s vital role in the green transition, it might have sounded like a niche industrial story. Zinc may not appear on the European Commission’s list of “critical” materials, but its byproducts — germanium, indium, and gallium — are indispensable for semiconductors, fiber optics, batteries, and advanced defense systems. These rare metals place zinc smelters like Nyrstar at the heart of a geopolitical contest. As demand for critical minerals surges, Eu

As geopolitical tensions and fears of war escalate, the race for strategic raw materials has reached a fever pitch among the world’s major power blocs. Commodity giants such as Glencore and Trafigura are cashing in on global scarcity, posting record-breaking profits that underscore their growing dominance in the global supply chain. Traders Thrive Amid Geopolitical Turmoil A recent Bloomberg article confirms that the world’s top metal traders are among the biggest beneficiari

“You're losing.” With these harsh words, Jamie Dimon, CEO of the world's largest bank, addressed Europe today in the Financial Times....

Last April, De Tijd warned that Europe must build 40 new mines and metal factories by 2030 to meet its own green transition targets — a...

Another case of the #CuckooStrategy in action. Trafigura ’s playbook is becoming painfully familiar: leverage special situations emerging...

Public Eye’s latest podcast investigates the Angolan corruption scandal involving Trafigura. It sheds light on how the company allegedly...

"Trafigura Group will pay $126 million and plead guilty to US charges related to bribery in Brazil, in the latest case involving...

'Critical infrastructure and smelting capacity are a national security issue and therefore they need some kind of government ownership or...

“The greatest hold-up in Belgian industrial history” — that is how the magazine Le Vif describes Trafigura’s role in the acquisition of...

It is hereby (once again) confirmed: Trafigura, the international commodities trader that hijacked the assets of Belgium's industrial...

Michael Wainwright "The ruling is a historic moment, making Wainwright the first senior executive at a major trading house ever to be...

On December 2nd, trading giant Trafigura faces court over allegations of corruption involving its former parent company, Trafigura Beheer...