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Trading and Risk Management of Bulk Commodities

  • Finance & Investment
Next Intake: 18 Sep 2025 (Thu)
  • Intermediate
  • SkillsFuture
  • Short Courses

This module is conducted in-person.

Next course starts on
18 Sep 2025 (Thu) See Full Schedule
Fee
SGD2,180* (as low as SGD254 after maximum funding) Learn More
Duration

2 Full Days (Weekdays)

Level
Intermediate

Who Should Attend

Professionals engaged in the trading, financing and risk management of bulk commodities. This includes traders, corporate treasurers, corporate bankers, trade finance specialists, operations and supply chain professionals, compliance and audit. Fund managers, legal professionals, consultants and investors will also benefit from the program.

 

 

Overview

Learn from industry veterans and gain practical insights into the trading and risk management of bulk commodities. In this 2 day program, participants will focus on both the physical and financial aspects of the business, as well as new developments disrupting the trading, logistics and trade financing in the bulk commodity space.

Learning Objectives

  • Gain insights into the physical supply chain of bulk commodities and key areas of importance
  • Understand the key elements of a physical trade
  • Learn about risk management and its applications to bulk commodities
  • Learn which product indices and instruments are important in bulk commodities
  • Understand how these Instruments can be applied to manage a wide range of portfolio risks
  • Appreciate how digitisation and technological disruptions impact trading, logistics and trade finance in the bulk commodity space

Topic/Structure

  • Physical Supply Chain – Basics
  • What is Risk Management?
  • What Are Risk Management Objectives?
  • How are Bulk Markets and Supply Chains Structured?
  • Coal & Iron Ore Prices, Benchmarks, & Hedging
  • What is Hedging?
  • Case Study: Hedging Examples – Producer Physical Supply with Hedging
  • What are Primary Coal/Iron Ore Market Risks and Exposures?
  • Case Study: Lesson in History: Risk Management Limits
  • What is Exchange for Physical (EFP) in the Bulk Market?
  • What Contract terms affect the price?
  • How can you Hedge Price Risk?
  • Hedging Strategies, Arbitrage, and Contango?
  • Risk Assessment: Monitor, Measure, Manage
  • Trends & Outlook

Assessment

As part of the requirement for SkillsFuture Singapore, there will be an assessment conducted at the end of the course. The mode of assessment, which is up to the trainer’s discretion, may be an online quiz, a presentation or based on classroom exercises.

Participants are required to attain a minimum of 75% attendance and pass the associated assessment in order to receive a digital Certificate of Completion issued by Singapore Management University.

Calculate Programme Fee

Click here for more information about SkillsFuture Credits (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)
For PSEA - Available only for Singapore Citizen below 31 (Not applicable for Company-sponsored participants)

Total Program Fee: SGD0.00

Fee Table

COMPANY-SPONSORED

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

SELF-SPONSORED

SME

NON-SME

Singapore Citizen < 40 years old

Permanent Resident

LTVP+

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$654

(After SSG Funding 70%)

Singapore Citizen ≥ 40 years old

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ ETSS Funding 20%)

$254

(After SSG Funding 70%
+ MCES Funding 20%)

International Participant

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

$2,180

(No Funding)

All prices include 9% GST

Please note that the programme fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Post Secondary Education Account (PSEA)
PSEA can be utilised for subsidised programmes eligible for SkillsFuture Credit support. Click here to find out more.

Self Sponsored

SkillsFuture Credit

Singapore Citizens aged 25 and above may use their SkillsFuture Credits to pay for the course fees. The credits may be used on top of existing course fee funding.

This is only applicable to self-sponsored participants. Application to utilise SkillsFuture Credits can be submitted when making payment for the course via the SMU Academy TMS Portal, and can only be made within 60 days of course start date.

Please click here for more information on the SkillsFuture Credit. For help in submitting an SFC claim, you may wish to refer to our step-by-step guide on claiming SkillsFuture Credits (Individual).

Workfare Skills Support Scheme

From 1 July 2023, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme has been enhanced. Please click here for more details.

Company Sponsored

Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS)

  • Organisation must be registered or incorporated in Singapore
  • Employment size of not more than 200 or with annual sales turnover of not more than $100 million
  • Trainees must be hired in accordance with the Employment Act and fully sponsored by their employers for the course
  • Trainees must be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Trainees must not be a full-time national serviceman
  • Trainees are eligible for ETSS funding only if their company's SME status is approved prior to the course commencement date. To verify your SME's status, please click here. 

Please click here for more information on ETSS.

Absentee Payroll

Companies who sponsor their employees for the course may apply for Absentee Payroll here. For more information, please refer to:

AP Guide (Non-SME Companies)
Declaration Guide (SME Companies)

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Trainers

John Driscoll
Lecturer
Singapore Management University
John Driscoll
Lecturer
Singapore Management University
John Driscoll’s career in the energy sector spans nearly four decades in the US and Singapore, with senior management experience in supply, trading, energy publishing and price reporting for companies like Maxus, Tosco, Tomen & Ultramar, Mobil Asia and Argus. In 2004, he returned to GS Caltex, handling product trading, risk management, market analysis and training. John retired in 2012 to set up his own Singapore-based advisory and coaching services. He regularly lectures at the Singapore Management University and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology.
Pat Markey
COO
Global Coal Limited
Pat Markey
COO
Global Coal Limited

Pat Markey has over thirty one (31+) years’ of experience in the Global Energy and Mining sectors in Marketing, Strategic Planning, Consulting, Supply and Trading, and Engineering. Pat has served in senior roles as the Executive General Manager of Marketing for Whitehaven Coal Limited based in Sydney, Australia and as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Global Coal Limited based in London, United Kingdom. Prior to 2002, Pat worked in the Crude Oil and Refined Products sector for Enron Capital and Trade Resources both in Singapore and the United States and for Conoco, Inc. in the United States.

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