Commodities 101: Exploring Careers in Commodity Trading

From powering industries to feeding populations, commodities play a vital role in the global economy. Yet, despite its impact and breadth, the commodities sector remains relatively unfamiliar to many students. Beyond trading, the industry offers diverse career opportunities across analytics, operations, technology, supply chain, risk management, and other commercial functions.

Join us for this introductory industry session to gain a deeper understanding of the commodities ecosystem and explore the exciting career pathways available within the sector. Through insights from industry professionals across the oil and agricultural commodities markets, you will learn how global commodity markets operate, the key functions that keep international trade moving, and what it takes to build a successful career in the industry.

The session will feature speakers from the oil and agri-commodities sectors who will share their experiences, industry perspectives, and career journeys, providing students with a practical understanding of this dynamic and fast-paced field.

Key topics include:

• The fundamentals of commodity trading and how global commodity markets function
• An introduction to oil trading, including the market intelligence and insights that inform trading decisions (courtesy of Sparta Commodities)
• An overview of agricultural commodity trading, with a focus on grains and wheat markets
• Day-to-day responsibilities within trading and related commercial roles
• Career opportunities across trading, analytics, operations, supply chain, technology, risk management, and support functions
• The skills, mindsets, and attributes employers look for in aspiring commodities professionals

The session will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with industry practitioners and gain practical advice on entering and thriving in the commodities sector.

Who should attend:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in learning more about commodities, global trade, and financial markets
• Students exploring careers in trading, analytics, operations, supply chain, technology, risk management, and related functions
• Students seeking insights from industry professionals on opportunities within the commodities sector

This is a pre-event workshop for NUS Career Fest 2026.

Speaker(s)

June Goh
Senior Oil Market Analyst, Sparta Commodities

June is a senior oil market analyst at Sparta Commodities specialising in global crude trade flows and refining economics across Asia and Europe. Her analysis is regularly cited by Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Channel News Asia and Reuters. With a significant following in the energy community on X (@JuneGoh_Sparta), June’s insights are a staple for institutional traders navigating regional market shifts.

She graduated from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) Honours degree, and has 18 years work experience in Shell across refining, trading and strategy prior to joining Sparta in 2024.

June’s LinkedIn profile →

Marcus Loke
Director of Cargo Trading, CJ International Trading

Marcus Lok is the Director of Cargo Trading at CJ International Asia, where he leads regional trading operations across Southeast Asia. He has over 15 years of experience in commodity trading, with deep expertise in logistics, market analysis, and cross-border trade execution.

Prior to joining CJIA, he held key roles in leading trading firms, managing diverse portfolios across the agri-commodities sector.
At CJIA, he oversees cargo trading strategies and regional market expansion initiatives.

In this session, Marcus will share practical insights into the global trading industry, specifically relating to his expertise in grains and wheat trading, as well as the career pathways and key skills required to succeed in this dynamic field.

Register by 1 September 2026.
(Registration will close once all slots are filled)