Total's trading and shipping operations

When total’s trading & shipping teams sell a shipment of oil or gas, there are three main steps involved:

Negotiating the contract: The role of the market analysts, traders and trading operators is to negotiate the most advantageous contract to sell the cargo. Once they have assessed the risks involved and identified the best opportunities, they sign the contract with the other party (a refinery, for example).

Chartering: To transport the cargo, the charterers, legal experts and credit officers choose the safest vessel and negotiate the shipping conditions. When the ship sets sail, they track its route.

Unloading: Once the cargo has arrived at its destination, the Shipping and Finance Departments verify the quantity and quality of the shipment. Lastly, they issue invoices to complete the sale.