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Trust Erodes When the Cargo Is Rubbish: The Trafigura Nickel Affair
The global commodity markets are no stranger to controversy. But when a firm as large as Trafigura finds itself facing several major legal battles simultaneously, the industry must take note. One concerns an alleged fraud involving nickel shipments worth about $600 million; another involves a landmark bribery conviction. A third centres on the long-running dispute related to Nyrstar, in which Trafigura has faced allegations over its role in the company’s financial collapse. T
2 days ago3 min read


Strategic Autonomy for Sale: How Trafigura Took Europe’s Zinc Shield
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
Nov 143 min read


The Hidden Winners of the Global Commodities War
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
Nov 112 min read


The stock market regulator speaks of market manipulation: “This report will strengthen the legal case against Nyrstar and its directors.”
The Nyrstar saga continues to make headlines. La Libre follows up on articles published by L'Echo and De Tijd and highlights a striking...
Sep 152 min read


FSMA auditor: Nyrstar and directors concealed €719 million in debt
Our years of appealing for transparency in the sour Nyrstar file finally seems to have been heard. In this article by Bert Broens in De...
Sep 92 min read


Trafigura and shipowner sucked into $18bn Pertamina corruption probe
From Jakarta to Geneva, Trafigura’s Troubles Multiply. Fresh off a Swiss court conviction tied to operations in Angola, commodity giant...
Aug 12 min read


Nyrstar Deserves Resolve, Not Defeatism
Is Nyrstar’s board of directors truly caught between a rock and a hard place? That metaphor positions the board as a victim. In reality,...
Aug 13 min read


Independent director or loyal spokesperson?
The financial newspaper De Tijd published an opinion by Kris Vansanten in which he argues that Nyrstar should finally act in line with...
Jul 312 min read


Inertia as a tactic: Trafigura's ‘Belgian Torpedo’
The wheels of justice turn slowly – too slowly – and this undermines the credibility of the rule of law. In an opinion piece in De Tijd,...
Jul 182 min read


The EU dreams of autonomy, but is selling its future to the highest bidder.
“You're losing.” With these harsh words, Jamie Dimon, CEO of the world's largest bank, addressed Europe today in the Financial Times....
Jul 102 min read


Italy’s biggest refinery in crisis three years after sale by Russia’s Lukoil
Another case of the #CuckooStrategy in action. Trafigura ’s playbook is becoming painfully familiar: leverage special situations emerging...
Apr 122 min read


Trafigura Agrees to Pay $76 Million in Brazil Bribery Cases
Summary : In April 2025, Trafigura agreed to a $75.8 million settlement with Brazilian authorities, resolving civil cases stemming from...
Mar 311 min read


Podcast: "The Lobito Corridor: Trafigura on track for Africa's mining heartland"
Public Eye’s latest podcast investigates the Angolan corruption scandal involving Trafigura. It sheds light on how the company allegedly...
Mar 271 min read


Trafigura to Pay $126 Million and Plead Guilty to Brazil Bribes
"Trafigura Group will pay $126 million and plead guilty to US charges related to bribery in Brazil, in the latest case involving...
Mar 271 min read


Nyrstar parent company Trafigura wants to partially nationalize zinc group
'Critical infrastructure and smelting capacity are a national security issue and therefore they need some kind of government ownership or...
Mar 262 min read


Trafigura’s $1.1 Billion Mongolia Fraud Was ‘Humbling,’ CEO Says
illustration Summary : Trafigura CEO addressed the firm’s $1.1 billion fraud loss in Mongolia, calling it a “humbling experience” and a...
Mar 251 min read


Acquisition of Belgian flagship Nyrstar: hidden reports that embarrass Trafigura
'The biggest robbery in Belgian industrial history' is how Le Vif magazine describes Trafigura's role in the takeover of Nyrstar's...
Mar 72 min read


“The biggest hold-up in Belgian industrial history”
“The greatest hold-up in Belgian industrial history” — that is how the magazine Le Vif describes Trafigura’s role in the acquisition of...
Mar 71 min read


Trafigura and ex-COO convicted of Bribery by Swiss Court
Mike Wainwright Summary : In a landmark ruling, Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court convicted Trafigura and its former COO, Mike...
Jan 311 min read


Ex-Trafigura boss convicted of bribery in landmark case
The conviction of Trafigura and one of its key executives is a watershed for the commodity trading industry, and is by all means...
Jan 312 min read
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