Toxic Headlines:
The Media's Take on Trafigura

Trafigura is a leading global commodity trading company, active in the sourcing, storage, and transportation of oil and metals across international markets. With a vast logistics network and financial influence, it plays a key role in global supply chains. Trafigura executed a disputed and potentially illicit takeover of Nyrstar’s key assets.

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In January 2025 Trafigura was convicted in Switzerland for corruption and bribery in Angola. Their former COO Michael Wainwright, who also appears in the Nyrstar dossier, was sentenced to 32 months of imprisonment for his role in the bribery; however, he has contested the judgment and initiated an appeal. This conviction comes on the back of a long list of scandals involving Trafigura in recent years, notably the oil-for-food scandal with illegal actions related to an Essex tanker during the Iraq war under the United Nations’ Oil-for-Food Programme. Trafigura is also linked to toxic waste dumping in Côte d’Ivoire, causing 17 deaths and 30,000 injured. Similarly, allegations surfaced denouncing Trafigura’s special “Africa quality” oil containing high levels of sulphur, damaging people’s health. And an investigation by Global Witness revealed alleged ties between Trafigura and Operation Car Wash, a landmark anti-corruption probe and money laundering scandal in Brazil. In addition, Trafigura stands out by numerous investigations on bribery and fraud involving some of its top executives, including specific presumptions of corruption.

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All these scandals have been documented extensively.