Our Services
" We offer a full range of trading and related services. This goes over and
beyond the buying, transporting and delivering of petrochemicals in some cases."
" We offer a full range of trading and related services. This goes over and beyond the buying, transporting and delivering of petrochemicals in some cases."
We have accrued a solid base of skills and expertise, resources and intelligence in the course of our business and we have been able to apply these on behalf of customers even where they would not normally fall within the scope of a trading business.
Helping you to bridge your supply gap...
By undertaking long-term off-take contracts and developing global marketing strategies
with producers, who are starting up new projects, but want to focus their efforts
on the local market.
By carrying out full inventory management of the product on behalf of the producer
within his own production facility, taking responsibility for maintaining reasonable
stock levels, and shipping out surpluses as and when necessary.
By running economic and cost-benefit analyses on behalf of customers who are starting
up new projects to assess whether it will be more beneficial to build storage facilities
or infrastructure for immediate shipment of product.
By actively growing our participation in the ISO-tank sector, enabling us to work
with customers in chemical intermediates and specific markets where the volumes
involved tend to be small and the logistics and infrastructure available may be
limited, allowing them to access markets they would not otherwise be able to access.
By helping customers operate new stand-alone facilities in remote areas in advance
of the completion of infrastructure and supply-chain resources they will later be
able to rely on. We are also happy to apply our skills and expertise in areas beyond
the normal scope of a trading business, if it means we are able to help solve specific
issues.
By undertaking long-term off-take contracts and developing global marketing strategies with producers, who are starting up new projects, but want to focus their efforts on the local market.
By carrying out full inventory management of the product on behalf of the producer within his own production facility, taking responsibility for maintaining reasonable stock levels, and shipping out surpluses as and when necessary.
By running economic and cost-benefit analyses on behalf of customers who are starting up new projects to assess whether it will be more beneficial to build storage facilities or infrastructure for immediate shipment of product.
By actively growing our participation in the ISO-tank sector, enabling us to work with customers in chemical intermediates and specific markets where the volumes involved tend to be small and the logistics and infrastructure available may be limited, allowing them to access markets they would not otherwise be able to access.
By helping customers operate new stand-alone facilities in remote areas in advance of the completion of infrastructure and supply-chain resources they will later be able to rely on. We are also happy to apply our skills and expertise in areas beyond the normal scope of a trading business, if it means we are able to help solve specific issues.
TRADING CHEMICALS
We can supply the chemical you need or buy the product you want to sell, and make
all the necessary legal, logistical and administrative arrangements necessary to
complete the deal. As a trader we take title to the product in line with the agreed
terms and ensure the correct logistical solution to take or make delivery.
We do not simply broke products, but take ownership into our contract positions
or our portfolio.
We have experienced, well-connected traders and operators in major trading hubs
around the world, with expert knowledge of the business, in constant contact with
the markets and with each other. This means we know what is happening as it happens,
and we can judge what it will mean for our business and yours, both locally and
globally.
For example, a customer in North America found he had to ship a cargo at short notice
and needed to work fast to identify his best option. The job was passed to our Asian
offices as the day ended in North America. The markets in Asia were leading CFR
prices at that time. However, we were quickly able to establish in Asia that despite
the favorable pricing, shipping space would be difficult to obtain. The job was
passed to Europe as the day continued in Asia. By the time North America reopened
it had been confirmed that the best option was to ship to Central America and thereby
take advantage of particularly advantageous shipping rates that had been identified
for prompt lifting.
Our business is built on close connections and long-standing global relationships.
These are one-to-one, face-to-face relationships. Our customers include major multinationals,
but our dealings are with people in those companies as well as the company itself.
It means our knowledge of different markets around the world is first hand and drawn
from the people who know those markets best. One particular strength is our depth
of knowledge about the markets of the fast-growing BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia,
India and China).
For example, when global markets collapsed in Q4 2009, we were one of the very few
traders still able to take product into China. We were able to do that because of
the strength of our relationships there and the trust we have built with our Chinese
partners over many years.
We can supply the chemical you need or buy the product you want to sell, and make all the necessary legal, logistical and administrative arrangements necessary to complete the deal. As a trader we take title to the product in line with the agreed terms and ensure the correct logistical solution to take or make delivery.
We do not simply broke products, but take ownership into our contract positions or our portfolio.
We have experienced, well-connected traders and operators in major trading hubs around the world, with expert knowledge of the business, in constant contact with the markets and with each other. This means we know what is happening as it happens, and we can judge what it will mean for our business and yours, both locally and globally.
For example, a customer in North America found he had to ship a cargo at short notice and needed to work fast to identify his best option. The job was passed to our Asian offices as the day ended in North America. The markets in Asia were leading CFR prices at that time. However, we were quickly able to establish in Asia that despite the favorable pricing, shipping space would be difficult to obtain. The job was passed to Europe as the day continued in Asia. By the time North America reopened it had been confirmed that the best option was to ship to Central America and thereby take advantage of particularly advantageous shipping rates that had been identified for prompt lifting.
Our business is built on close connections and long-standing global relationships. These are one-to-one, face-to-face relationships. Our customers include major multinationals, but our dealings are with people in those companies as well as the company itself.
It means our knowledge of different markets around the world is first hand and drawn from the people who know those markets best. One particular strength is our depth of knowledge about the markets of the fast-growing BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
For example, when global markets collapsed in Q4 2009, we were one of the very few traders still able to take product into China. We were able to do that because of the strength of our relationships there and the trust we have built with our Chinese partners over many years.
RISK MANAGEMENT
We can help hedge physical or financial risk. Our business is built on our ability
to manage and minimize risk. Our clients benefit directly from this core expertise
and de-risking policy when we handle business.
We are highly adept at managing physical risk. We have a strong track record in
handling transport and logistics arrangements, so we can ensure that any risk to
your product in transit is minimized and managed.
For example, GUPC works closely with insurance and shipping markets globally. We
have underwriting and insurance people in the maritime centers of London, Oslo,
Rotterdam, Singapore and Hong Kong.
We understand and manage the complex insurance involved today in covering the cargo,
ship, and freight, as well as the pollution and environmental risk cover required.
We ensure that the ships and cargoes we use are insured in the best and most cost
effective manner possible.
For example, for the pirate zone around Somalia, we work with experienced ship owners
and select larger ships that sit higher in the water and are able to move faster;
or we book whole vessels that only carry our cargoes and sail part-loaded. These
mean higher shipping costs, but ensure we are able to use the routes and destinations
preferred by customers at an acceptable level of risk.
Many people think traders are risk takers. This is far from the truth - or at least
not for GUPC. We are highly risk averse. Our business is built on our ability to
manage and minimize risk. For example, we have become highly skilled in the use
of financial hedging mechanisms and we frequently use this expertise to manage the
financial risk of a deal for our customers.
Often an upstream monomer producer may need to lock the price of his product to
that of a key feedstock such as naphtha, while a downstream consumer needs to guarantee
a fixed price for the monomer he buys because of the long-term commitments.
Both positions are reasonable for each party, but too risky for the other to consider.
If possible, we will handle this exposure on behalf of our customers. In other cases
this may mean currency exposure or payment exposure where companies want to sell
product, but their potential customers are not fully bankable without adequate guarantees
or credit insurance, which makes it hard for them to sell to the client. We can
facilitate the transactions as well as manage the deliveries, where we become the
counter-party in the transactions.
We can help hedge physical or financial risk. Our business is built on our ability to manage and minimize risk. Our clients benefit directly from this core expertise and de-risking policy when we handle business.
We are highly adept at managing physical risk. We have a strong track record in handling transport and logistics arrangements, so we can ensure that any risk to your product in transit is minimized and managed.
For example, GUPC works closely with insurance and shipping markets globally. We have underwriting and insurance people in the maritime centers of London, Oslo, Rotterdam, Singapore and Hong Kong.
We understand and manage the complex insurance involved today in covering the cargo, ship, and freight, as well as the pollution and environmental risk cover required.
We ensure that the ships and cargoes we use are insured in the best and most cost effective manner possible.
For example, for the pirate zone around Somalia, we work with experienced ship owners and select larger ships that sit higher in the water and are able to move faster; or we book whole vessels that only carry our cargoes and sail part-loaded. These mean higher shipping costs, but ensure we are able to use the routes and destinations preferred by customers at an acceptable level of risk.
Many people think traders are risk takers. This is far from the truth - or at least not for GUPC. We are highly risk averse. Our business is built on our ability to manage and minimize risk. For example, we have become highly skilled in the use of financial hedging mechanisms and we frequently use this expertise to manage the financial risk of a deal for our customers.
Often an upstream monomer producer may need to lock the price of his product to that of a key feedstock such as naphtha, while a downstream consumer needs to guarantee a fixed price for the monomer he buys because of the long-term commitments.
Both positions are reasonable for each party, but too risky for the other to consider. If possible, we will handle this exposure on behalf of our customers. In other cases this may mean currency exposure or payment exposure where companies want to sell product, but their potential customers are not fully bankable without adequate guarantees or credit insurance, which makes it hard for them to sell to the client. We can facilitate the transactions as well as manage the deliveries, where we become the counter-party in the transactions.
CHARTERING
We have excellent relationships with leading ship owners and operators worldwide
as well as in house the expertise needed to ensure your product is shipped safely
and effectively, at optimum cost, and with the least possible risk.
A number of our operations team came to us from the shipping and logistics industry.
This helps enormously from an experience point of view to work effectively with
ship inspectors and owners, providing appropriate instructions when we charter vessel
space and providing a full brief when product is loaded.
For example, we make it a point to stay in contact with a ship on a daily basis
when we have cargo aboard. We are also able to track our ships in real time by satellite.
This means we can manage and minimize the incidental costs that can arise during
a voyage as a result of delays or changes in the route, by giving good accurate
arrival and departure times as well as the voyage time itself.
One of our areas of expertise is in putting together multiple cargoes to make a
single shipment (parceling up) and, on arrival, in breaking down large-volume shipments
into smaller deliveries (breaking bulk). The fuller the ship, the lower the costs
and the more economic are the freight charges. Conversely, without a sufficient
level of loading, it may not be economically viable for a ship to sail. Our ability
to parcel up a full load may be the deciding factor in whether product can be moved
or not.
This has been particularly beneficial for smaller customers who may not have the
scale of operation, geographic reach or size of requirement to operate alone in
large-volume international markets. In many cases we have been able to give these
customers access to these markets for the first time.
It can also create new market opportunities that did not previously exist. For example,
we have a particularly strong track record in parcelling up shipments to a size
where costs are reduced sufficiently to open an arbitrage window.
We have excellent relationships with leading ship owners and operators worldwide as well as in house the expertise needed to ensure your product is shipped safely and effectively, at optimum cost, and with the least possible risk.
A number of our operations team came to us from the shipping and logistics industry. This helps enormously from an experience point of view to work effectively with ship inspectors and owners, providing appropriate instructions when we charter vessel space and providing a full brief when product is loaded.
For example, we make it a point to stay in contact with a ship on a daily basis when we have cargo aboard. We are also able to track our ships in real time by satellite. This means we can manage and minimize the incidental costs that can arise during a voyage as a result of delays or changes in the route, by giving good accurate arrival and departure times as well as the voyage time itself.
One of our areas of expertise is in putting together multiple cargoes to make a single shipment (parceling up) and, on arrival, in breaking down large-volume shipments into smaller deliveries (breaking bulk). The fuller the ship, the lower the costs and the more economic are the freight charges. Conversely, without a sufficient level of loading, it may not be economically viable for a ship to sail. Our ability to parcel up a full load may be the deciding factor in whether product can be moved or not.
This has been particularly beneficial for smaller customers who may not have the scale of operation, geographic reach or size of requirement to operate alone in large-volume international markets. In many cases we have been able to give these customers access to these markets for the first time.
It can also create new market opportunities that did not previously exist. For example, we have a particularly strong track record in parcelling up shipments to a size where costs are reduced sufficiently to open an arbitrage window.
LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS
Our global operations team has a strong track record in shipping and logistics in
the various sectors we service. They represent a wealth of experience and expertise
that help us find optimum solutions in a hassle free fashion, to make our business
as seamless and as invisible as possible.
They have experience in shipping operations and agency operations as well as understanding
and training in the testing and analysis of the products to ensure that we are arranging
our samples and loadings correctly, and reporting this on time and in the correct
fashion to our clients and where necessary their bankers.
We understand that trading and shipping is not only about the product itself but
also the paperwork around the cargo that allows the easy transit through ports and
customs and regulatory bodies. The ship and the cargo may all arrive in the port
on time and in correct condition, but if the paperwork and bills of lading are not
available and in the correct format, then the cargo could be delayed for many days
wasting time and money.
Our global operations team has a strong track record in shipping and logistics in the various sectors we service. They represent a wealth of experience and expertise that help us find optimum solutions in a hassle free fashion, to make our business as seamless and as invisible as possible.
They have experience in shipping operations and agency operations as well as understanding and training in the testing and analysis of the products to ensure that we are arranging our samples and loadings correctly, and reporting this on time and in the correct fashion to our clients and where necessary their bankers.
We understand that trading and shipping is not only about the product itself but also the paperwork around the cargo that allows the easy transit through ports and customs and regulatory bodies. The ship and the cargo may all arrive in the port on time and in correct condition, but if the paperwork and bills of lading are not available and in the correct format, then the cargo could be delayed for many days wasting time and money.
STORAGE AND TERMINALING
We have special arrangements with terminal operators in key global ports and are
able to help you manage these requirements as they arise.
We have term contracts for some of our regular products in the main hubs to ensure
that we can ship in by bulk and take material out in the smaller volumes by barge,
road and rail that our customers need for some locations.
We continually review our internal storage strategy as well as the market need for
storage and where possible adjust to optimize the logistical chain.
We have special arrangements with terminal operators in key global ports and are able to help you manage these requirements as they arise.
We have term contracts for some of our regular products in the main hubs to ensure that we can ship in by bulk and take material out in the smaller volumes by barge, road and rail that our customers need for some locations.
We continually review our internal storage strategy as well as the market need for storage and where possible adjust to optimize the logistical chain.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Where we have major contracts we occasional work down to the local plant level and
monitor the production and storage numbers daily along with the client. This allows
us to bring in the correct sized ships in the best timing to allow optimum inventory
planning for our clients.
In other cases we supply the shipping and logistics for not only our own product,
but the full import or export supply of the client to avoid issues of too many barges
or ships from different customers or suppliers arriving at the same time, resulting
in long waiting time and demurrage costs.
We work not only on a spot or annual basis with our clients, but also in some cases
on a long term ever green basis.
We are of course there to help in emergencies as well where tanks are full and customers
not available, and in these cases we will arrange floating storage or land storage
to allow the production facilities to run unhindered and cut back due to inventory
overflow.
Where we have major contracts we occasional work down to the local plant level and monitor the production and storage numbers daily along with the client. This allows us to bring in the correct sized ships in the best timing to allow optimum inventory planning for our clients.
In other cases we supply the shipping and logistics for not only our own product, but the full import or export supply of the client to avoid issues of too many barges or ships from different customers or suppliers arriving at the same time, resulting in long waiting time and demurrage costs.
We work not only on a spot or annual basis with our clients, but also in some cases on a long term ever green basis.
We are of course there to help in emergencies as well where tanks are full and customers not available, and in these cases we will arrange floating storage or land storage to allow the production facilities to run unhindered and cut back due to inventory overflow.
