Strong Source Episode 6 with Ben Tacken
Apr 5, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Ben Tacken, the Corporate Director of Purchase and Trading at DE Heus, shares his extensive experience in commodity trading. He dives into his early days at Cargill, the intricacies of moving from trading biodiesel to managing physical procurement. Ben contrasts futures trading with physical markets, explores the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on grain flows, and emphasizes the importance of a data-driven, fundamental trading style. He also addresses the need for diversity in trading roles and the growing public interest in commodities.
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From Cargill To Energy Markets
- Ben described starting at Cargill and moving to Geneva where he learned agricultural trading fundamentals.
- He then expanded into biodiesel and energy, which reshaped his career path into broader commodity markets.
Running A Small Multi‑Product Desk
- Ben moved to Vattenfall (Neuon) to run a multi-product speculative book during the 2008 crisis.
- He traded across power, gas and other products with a small four-person team glued to screens all day.
Joining DE Heus And Scaling Teams
- Ben joined DE Heus to head procurement and trading, switching from pure screen trading to managing larger physical operations.
- The role required building and leading a much bigger team across multiple countries.
