Profile

	Name: Bas van Goor
	Nationality: Dutch
	Joined Cargill in 1993
	Currently Living in: Amsterdam
	Languages spoken: English, Dutch, German, French
	Current Position: Trading Manager Global Container Business
	Education: Master in Business Economics & Marketing
	Career History: 1993-1994 Trainee Ocean Transportation 1994-1996 Trader Ocean Transportation 1996-1999 Manager Ocean Transportation in Amsterdam 1999-2001 Manager Ocean Transportation in Geneva 2001 White Sugar trader in Geneva 2001–2003 Manager White Sugar trading in Geneva 2003–current Trading manager Global Container Business for the Sugar BU, main goal is to develop the white sugar trading based on container freight only.

Introduction of the speaker; position & function:

1. Discuss your background and how you got started with Cargill
   I studied business economics & marketing in the dutch university of groningen and finalised my studies in 1993. During those years it wasn’t easy to find trainee positions and so I received a negative letter form cargill on my application. I was convinced cargill would be a great company for me to work at, a lot of freedom to operate and real responsibilities, I therefore picked up the phone to explain the recruiter he might have made a mistake. After 30 minutes he invited me for an interview and this was the start of an internship rather than a job at cargill. Six months later I started as commercial trainee at ocean transportation in amsterdam.

Life as a trader:

1. What was your biggest deal?
   One of the biggest deals I have concluded in white sugar recently is the purchase of over 300,000mt of middle-eastern sugar for supply within the region, all in containers!
   
   
2. Most difficult / stressful day you have had? Where to start?
   Stress is part of the system, particularly when you get the freedom to build a new business from scratch as I have been doing over the last three years. There are days that all customers seem to be willing to buy at the same time or days that various suppliers all want to sell. The real stress comes when carefully planned shipping programs suddenly change due to outside issues and solutions need to be found quickly.
   
   
3. What brought you to become a trader? Did you consider alternatives? Any regrets?
   No regrets, creating something out of nothing is extremely exciting. Putting strategies at work for customers is another very satisfactory point.
   
   
4. What do you like best about your job?  Least?
   The nicest aspects of the trading job are the constant variety in origins and destinations we trade with.
   
   
5. Tell us about your career path?
   I started as trainee in ocean transportation, after one year I became a freight trader in the handy size segment and two years later I became the manager of this trading department. In 1999 I moved the department to geneva to facilitate further growth whereas in 2001 I moved from ocean transportation to the sugar bu. I started in sugar as a trader on the white sugar desk and after 6 months I became the trading manager for white sugar globally. I had this position for 2 years and then took the opprtunity to build a new business for sugar based in amsterdam – container trading of white sugar.
     
6. What makes you tick? Where do you get your energy from? 
   Succes is rather addictive. Creating a sustainable business for the long run strating from zero is extremely exciting.
   
   
7. How do Cargill traders get remunerated?
   Cargill pays a decent salary to start with. Most traders of my team are directly involved in decision making every day and thus are responsible for the outcomes of those decions. It is therefore logical that cargill pays the traders a bonus linked to results.
   
   
8. In your opinion, what is the best background / skill sets one needs to be a trader?
   I always like people to be streetsmart just as being able to analyse complex informations. It’s the combination of university knowledge and personal skills that counts.

About working in Cargill:

1. What insights can you share with us about working at Cargill? How is it from the inside different from what people expect from the outside?
   People outside cargill have no idea how much decision making authority traders in cargill can have. It is almost inconceivable for many people that join us coming from other companies.

About the Sugar and Ethanol industry:

1. Which geographical areas / products do you cover?
   From amsterdam we trade sugar in containers to every corner in the world. We trade mostly white sugar in bags but also handle raw sugar in bags and occasionally organic sugar.
   
   
2. What are the major trends in the Sugar and Ethanol trading sector?
   The food for fuel debate is a real one and this has it’s influence on the price of sugar our clients are paying every day. Another clear trend is that white sugar buyers will have to switch to containers in the near future to buy their needs – this has major implications on the futures markets for white sugar.