Why have other European supermajors been so profitable in oil trading recently?

Recent years have been characterized by extreme volatility in global oil and gas markets, driven by geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and post-pandemic demand fluctuations. These conditions create significant price differentials across regions and timeframes, allowing sophisticated trading desks to profit from arbitrage opportunities, hedging strategies, and efficient logistics management.

What are the main risks associated with an energy major operating an oil trading business?

Operating an oil trading business carries substantial risks, including exposure to market price volatility, credit risk from counterparties, and operational risks such as system failures or human error. Furthermore, regulatory compliance, particularly in derivatives markets, is complex and requires robust internal controls to prevent market manipulation or excessive risk-taking that could lead to significant financial losses.

How does an oil trading unit typically integrate with an energy company's core operations?

An oil trading unit typically works in close synergy with an energy company's upstream (production) and downstream (refining, marketing) divisions. It manages the physical flow of crude oil and refined products, optimizes inventory, hedges price exposure for future production or consumption, and seeks to profit from market inefficiencies. This integration allows the company to maximize value across its entire supply chain, from wellhead to consumer.

OilPrice · February 18, 2026 (Feb 18) · 1 min read

Eni Considers Return to Oil Trading as Rivals Reap Billions

ENI S.p.A.

Isometric technical illustration of offshore oil and gas operations with drillship and support vessel — Illustration: ENI S.p.A.

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

Eni is strategically evaluating the re-establishment of its oil trading division, a move aimed at capturing the substantial profits currently being generated by its European counterparts in the volatile commodity markets. This potential reversal of its 2019 decision to exit trading underscores a desire to optimize its own production and leverage market dynamics for enhanced profitability. The consideration highlights a broader industry trend where integrated energy companies are increasingly utilizing trading desks to bolster financial performance amidst global energy market fluctuations.

Key Facts

Italian energy major Eni is actively considering the re-establishment of its oil-trading business.
Eni's chief executive communicated this strategic consideration to the Financial Times.
The primary motivation for this potential move is to capture profits that rival European supermajors are currently earning from commodity trading.
Eni had previously ceased its oil trading operations in 2019.
Other major energy companies have continued to operate and profit from their trading desks during this period.

Background & Context

Historically, many integrated oil and gas companies maintain robust trading divisions to manage their physical commodity flows, hedge price risks, and capitalize on market arbitrage opportunities. Eni's decision to exit trading in 2019 likely reflected a strategic pivot towards core upstream and downstream operations, potentially influenced by past trading losses or a desire to reduce exposure to market volatility. However, recent years have seen unprecedented price swings and supply disruptions, creating highly lucrative conditions for well-positioned trading desks, prompting a re-evaluation of this strategy by companies like Eni.

Market Impact

Eni's potential return to oil trading could significantly diversify its revenue streams, moving beyond traditional exploration and production to capture value from market inefficiencies and price differentials. This strategic pivot would enable Eni to better optimize its extensive global production portfolio and enhance overall corporate profitability, aligning it more closely with the integrated business models of its most successful peers. However, it also reintroduces exposure to market volatility and requires substantial investment in talent, infrastructure, and robust risk management systems, potentially impacting capital allocation and operational focus.

What to Watch

The industry will closely monitor Eni's formal decision regarding the re-establishment of its trading arm, including the scale and specific mandate of such a unit. Key indicators will be the timeline for hiring and infrastructure development, as well as any public statements detailing its strategic objectives. This move could potentially prompt other companies that scaled back trading to reconsider their positions, further intensifying competition in the global commodity markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why have other European supermajors been so profitable in oil trading recently?: Recent years have been characterized by extreme volatility in global oil and gas markets, driven by geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and post-pandemic demand fluctuations. These conditions create significant price differentials across regions and timeframes, allowing sophisticated trading desks to profit from arbitrage opportunities, hedging strategies, and efficient logistics management.
What are the main risks associated with an energy major operating an oil trading business?: Operating an oil trading business carries substantial risks, including exposure to market price volatility, credit risk from counterparties, and operational risks such as system failures or human error. Furthermore, regulatory compliance, particularly in derivatives markets, is complex and requires robust internal controls to prevent market manipulation or excessive risk-taking that could lead to significant financial losses.
How does an oil trading unit typically integrate with an energy company's core operations?: An oil trading unit typically works in close synergy with an energy company's upstream (production) and downstream (refining, marketing) divisions. It manages the physical flow of crude oil and refined products, optimizes inventory, hedges price exposure for future production or consumption, and seeks to profit from market inefficiencies. This integration allows the company to maximize value across its entire supply chain, from wellhead to consumer.

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