🐣 The Gapuma Spring Lunch – A Q1 Tradition Every year, as Easter approaches, the Gapuma London team pauses – just briefly – to come together, take stock of the quarter behind us, and look ahead to what’s coming. This year, that felt more important than ever. Q1 2026 has been, by any measure, one of the most turbulent quarters in recent memory. Shifting trade flows, geopolitical volatility, and markets that have kept all of us on our toes. There is plenty to reflect on – and plenty to plan for. But first, lunch – and this year, there was rather more to celebrate than usual. The table did not disappoint. Coronation chicken and smoked salmon finger sandwiches, brie & cranberry and mozzarella & pesto vegetarian platters, chicken pesto pasta salad, falafel with hummus, mixed wraps, a rather magnificent spread of patisserie, chocolate éclairs, cream puffs – and, of course, the Easter eggs that have become something of a Gapuma institution. Raised glasses went to Neha Sampat, Head of Operations, marking a remarkable 15 years with Gapuma – a tenure that speaks for itself. To Stephen Harris, Operations Director, on his birthday. And to Mike Short and Saju Mullumangalam, who both celebrated birthdays on 1st April – a happy coincidence that made the occasion all the more festive. We were also delighted to welcome Luka Bouffard-Innes, our newly recruited Junior Trader, to his first Gapuma Spring Lunch – a proper rite of passage. And there was a very welcome surprise when Group Managing Director Jack Bardakjian made a flying visit, which lifted the room considerably. At Gapuma, we believe that a team which eats together, thinks together. Here’s to Q2.
Appointment Announcement | Rafael Fraletti as Head of Biofuels
19 March 2026 We are delighted to announce the appointment of Rafael Fraletti as Head of Biofuels, and Head of our Nyon Branch Office. Based in Geneva for the past three years, Rafael brings nearly a decade of experience in global biofuels trading. Before joining Gapuma, he spent seven years at Raízen – one of the world’s leading energy and biofuels groups – where he built an exceptional track record across international ethanol markets, first in Brazil and subsequently in Switzerland, with a particular focus on the European landscape. Over the past 15 months at Gapuma, Rafael has been instrumental in developing new trading flows, strengthening commercial relationships, and expanding the company’s footprint across key biofuel markets. He has played a central role in structuring and scaling our biofuels platform, and this appointment reflects both the confidence we place in him and the momentum the business has built under his contribution. In his new role, Rafael will lead the strategy and continued growth of our biofuels business, as well as overseeing operations at our Nyon branch. Rafael is motivated by a clear ambition: to position Gapuma not merely as a reliable supplier, but as a committed counterparty – one that actively contributes to the development and expansion of biofuels markets within the global decarbonisation agenda. That mission sits at the heart of everything we are building here. We look forward to the next chapter.
Charles Percehron – Our Energy Expert Speaks to Le Monde
17 March 2026 Below is an article published by Le Monde. It features our colleague Charles PERCHERON, and Kpler and its work using the latest technology to help map energy flows; highly recommended reading in the current geo-political context in the Persian Gulf. https://lnkd.in/e6kgDGAn
Did you know you can trade lean hogs on the stock market? 🐷
25 February 2026 No, really. Alongside live cattle, oats, frozen orange juice and cocoa futures, lean hog contracts are genuinely traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange – in lots of 40,000 pounds, no less. We’re not making this up. It turns out the world of commodity trading goes way beyond the gold bars and oil barrels most people picture. Here are five “exotic” soft commodities that serious traders are watching right now: ☕ Coffee – A billion daily drinkers means relentless demand. But Brazilian soil moisture levels, Vietnamese harvest delays and tropical storms all move the price. Your morning flat white is a geopolitical event. 🍫 Cocoa – In 2024, Côte d’Ivoire cut its export contracts by 40% due to poor weather. Ghana fared little better. Two countries produce half the world’s supply — so when West Africa sneezes, the chocolate market catches a cold. 🌾 Oats – Grown across the EU, Russia, Canada and Australia, oats are more globally distributed than most soft commodities. But here’s the twist: disruption in one grain market tends to ripple across all grains, because they share the same growing regions, transport networks and storage systems. 🥩 Lean hogs and live cattle – Alternative proteins are getting all the headlines. Meanwhile, global meat consumption keeps rising. Livestock futures are a quiet corner of the market that demographic trends suggest won’t stay quiet for long. 🍊 Frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) – Yes, it has its own futures market. In 2024, it hit all-time highs after disease-carrying sap-sucking insects devastated crops in Brazil (which produces nearly 70% of the world’s OJ) and a series of hurricanes compounded the damage in Florida. Extraordinary volatility in the most ordinary of breakfast staples. The common thread? These markets are driven by weather, disease, geography and human appetite — not by central bank policy or tech earnings cycles. For traders and commodity professionals who understand the supply side, that’s a very different — and potentially very interesting — kind of opportunity. Over to you. At Gapuma Group, we’re always curious about the commodity experiences that don’t make the standard textbooks. Have you ever dealt in something genuinely unusual — whether that’s a niche agricultural product, a regional soft commodity, or something else entirely that raised eyebrows at the trading desk?
He shoots: We Score: Gapuma Group Sets the Standard in Quality Management
10 February 2026 We’re delighted to announce that Gapuma Group has successfully passed its annual ISO 9001:2015 surveillance audit with zero non-conformities—a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality management excellence. ISO 9001 certification operates on a rigorous three-year cycle, with annual surveillance audits conducted to ensure organisations maintain the highest standards of quality management between recertification. This recent audit was performed by DNV Business Assurance, one of the world’s most authoritative and trusted certification bodies, whose independent assessment validates our continued compliance and operational excellence. This outstanding result is the culmination of a full year’s meticulous preparation led by our Quality & Office Manager, Ash Unadkat. Ash’s expertise, dedication, and exceptional attention to detail were instrumental in achieving this perfect score. The comprehensive quality of documentation, systems, and processes he presented to the auditor demonstrated a mastery of quality management that impressed DNV throughout the assessment. His strategic approach to preparation and flawless execution ensured that every aspect of our quality management system met—and exceeded—the rigorous standards required. The audit also highlighted the strength of our systems across all operational areas, with our Logistics and Trading divisions receiving outstanding feedback for their robust processes and thorough documentation. Special commendation also goes to Neha Sampat, Operations Manager, and Yanish Bhageerutty, Business Development Manager—who, despite having just returned from a productive trip to West Africa, left no question unanswered during his comprehensive presentation. Their depth of knowledge and professionalism impressed our auditors considerably. Maintaining ISO 9001 certification isn’t simply about meeting standards—it’s about embedding quality into every aspect of our operations, from procurement and logistics to customer service and continuous improvement. This success reinforces our position as a trusted partner in our industry. Finally a great vote of thanks to Stephen Harris, Operations Director, and every team member who contributed to this collective achievement. Your professionalism and commitment to excellence continue to set Gapuma Group apart.
Gapuma Group at Argus Global Base Oils 2026
5 February 2026 This week, Gapuma Group attended the Argus Global Base Oils Conference in London –a premier gathering of over 400 key decision-makers from across the international base oils and lubricants value chain. Group Managing Director Jack Bardakjian led our delegation, and was joined on Wednesday by the Senior Leadership Team from GLB Chemical Services Limited, our Nigerian subsidiary: Prakash Ramchandani (Managing Director), Thompson Longe (Technical Sales), and Akash Suhanda (Commercial Sales). The three-day conference brought together industry heavyweights including Chevron, Chevron Oronite, TotalEnergies, Lubrizol, Yunigreen, and Orlen Oil – providing invaluable face-to-face opportunities to strengthen partnerships, explore market trends, and align on our strategic vision for West Africa and beyond. These moments of direct collaboration – sharing insights, challenging assumptions, and building relationships – are what drive our continued growth in the base oils sector and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional value across our global markets. Building the future of base oils together.
🤝 Strengthening Our Nigeria Presence
3 February 2026 We were delighted to welcome our Senior Leadership Team from GLB Chemical Services Limited, Gapuma Group’s Nigerian subsidiary, to our London headquarters this week. Prakash Ramchandani (Managing Director), Thompson Longe (Technical Sales), and Akash Suhanda (Commercial Sales) are with us for four days of intensive strategy sessions and product training. On Tuesday, Jing Jing Lim from Chevron joined us for an in-depth product training session on Group 2 Base Oils, followed by strategic discussions on how we grow our distribution partnership in Nigeria; expanding our market penetration and delivering exceptional value to our customers across West Africa. These face-to-face sessions are invaluable; sharing insights, challenging assumptions, and aligning on our vision for the Nigerian market – that virtual meetings simply can’t replicate. During their visit the team will also attend the Argus Global Base Oils Conference; a gathering of more than key 400 decision-makers from across the international value chain shaping the future of base oils and lubricants. Great collaboration between our teams in London and Lagos – building the future of our Nigerian operations together.
Gapuma’s Shahab Mossavat Receives Freedom of the City of London
24 January 2026 We are delighted to report that Gapuma’s Communications Advisor, Shahab Mossavat, has recently received the Freedom of the City of London as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers – a tradition dating back to mediaeval times that continues to this day. Accompanied by family and friends at the ceremony, Shahab received warm congratulations from many quarters, including from our own Managing Director, Jack Bardakjian. This honour now entitles Shahab to progress to becoming a Liveryman of his Company, which will happen on 13th March. From there, the traditional path through the City of London’s ancient governance structure moves through several stages: Liverymen can become Common Councilmen, then Aldermen, then Sheriffs, and eventually – though the odds are vanishingly slim – Lord Mayor of the City of London. So whilst the ceremonial robes might have to wait, the theoretical path is there. Becoming a Freeman grants some wonderfully archaic privileges. Shahab can now legally drive sheep across London Bridge toll-free, though we suspect Transport for London might have views on this. He’s entitled to carry a drawn sword in the City and, should the worst happen, to be hanged with a silken rope rather than hemp. There’s also exemption from press-ganging into the Royal Navy, which would have been considerably more useful in the 18th century. Whilst these ancient liberties are largely ceremonial today, they’re a reminder of London’s rich history and the enduring traditions of the City’s livery companies, which continue to support education, charity, and their respective trades. Congratulations, Shahab.
Gapuma Group Strengthens Asian Presence with Singapore Branch; Makes Senior Appointment
6th Janaury 2026 We are delighted to announce that Gapuma Switzerland officially opened its Singapore branch on 2nd January 2026, marking a significant milestone in our strategic expansion across the Asian markets. The new office will serve as our regional hub for bulk chemicals and biofuels trading throughout Asia-Pacific, positioning us to better serve our clients and partners in this dynamic and growing region. Welcoming Paul Kim as Trading Director, Asia Region To lead this exciting venture, we are privileged to welcome Paul (Hyoung Jin) Kim as Trading Director, Asia Region. Paul brings over 25 years of distinguished experience in petrochemical trading, with deep expertise in aromatics, naphtha, base oils, and renewable energy commodities. A Singaporean of Korean origin, Paul’s career includes leadership roles at Trammochem Asia, where he served as Asia Regional Business Leader and PX Global Product Manager, successfully growing the regional team and expanding operations across multiple markets. Prior to this, he honed his trading acumen at Samsung Corporation and founded Questum Trading Pte Ltd, demonstrating both entrepreneurial vision and operational excellence. Paul’s extensive industry networks across Singapore, Korea, and China, combined with his strategic insight into Asian petrochemical markets, make him ideally positioned to drive Gapuma’s growth ambitions in the region. His appointment represents a significant strengthening of our trading capabilities and market intelligence in Asia. Looking Ahead This expansion reflects our commitment to serving the evolving needs of the bulk chemicals and biofuels sectors in Asia. With Paul’s leadership and our established global network, we are well-positioned to deliver value to our partners throughout the region. We look forward to introducing Paul to our wider network and to the opportunities that lie ahead as we deepen our presence in Asian markets.