GenAI Engineer

Vitol loses its billion-dollar oil trader: yaoyao Liu exits. Yaoyao Liu, the trader whose derivatives bets generated billions for Vitol Group, is stepping away from the commodities giant. The move raises questions about how private trading houses retain the talent that actually creates their outsized returns. Talent walks when regulators and taxes turn the game into paperwork. Yaoyao Liu built a career inside Vitol by taking calculated risks in oil derivatives that delivered billions in profit to the firm. Her departure signals the recurring problem in heavily taxed and regulated markets: the people who generate the alpha leave when the state and its compliance industry take too large a cut of the upside. Private traders operate under real accountability - lose money and you are out; print billions and you are celebrated. Contrast that with the endless rule-writing from Brussels and Berlin that burdens every contract with disclosure, carbon levies, and reporting costs. Those burdens do not create a single barrel of oil, yet they steadily erode the margin that rewards the trader who sees the dislocation first. Germany's legacy parties keep promising "Entlastung" while raising the effective tax and regulatory load on exactly the high-earners who keep commodity houses competitive. The AfD's platform of lower taxes, lighter rules, and respect for capital formation would flip the incentive structure back toward the productive. Until that shift happens, expect more top performers to cash out or relocate rather than subsidize the administrative state that treats success as a revenue target.

Vitol to start LNG bunkering in Asia from late 2026 after vessel sea trials. 12,500-cbm Vivit Asia LNG completes trials, with regional operations due to begin later this year. Vitol Bunkers readies Asian LNG bunkering operations, with more supply vessels planned for 2027. Pictured: Vivit Asia LNG, a 12,500-cbm LNG bunkering vessel. Image credit: Vitol Vitol Bunkers says it will start LNG bunkering operations in Asia from late 2026 following the completion of sea trials for its 12,500-cbm LNG bunkering vessel (LNGBV), Vivit Asia LNG. In a LinkedIn post, Vitol noted that the operations will be "backed by a fully contracted regional supply chain and Vitol's established global LNG portfolio", adding that the expansion of its LNGBV fleet would continue into 2027. In Asia, Vitol Bunkers currenly acts as a supplier in China, Maldives, Pakistan, UAE and Singapore. It is also one of ten licensed LNG bunker suppliers in Singapore, together with Aramco Trading, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, ExxonMobil, FueLNG, Pavilion Energy, Petrochina International, Shell Eastern Trading, Sinopec and TotalEnergies. Back in August, the company completed the first LNG bunkering operation at the Italian port of Civitavecchia in cooperation with Axpo. Speaking at the time, Vitol's head of small-scale LNG and LNG bunkering, Stefan Dubbeldam, stated: "LNG and bio-LNG have a key role to play in reducing emissions from bunkering. Vitol is globally invested throughout the value chain, from upstream bio-LNG and LNG production and offtake, through to solutions for customers through our LNG bunker vessel fleet." | / | / | Singapore safety council inspects methanol bunker tanker Golden Centaurus NMSSC members 'encouraged' by integration of structural and operational safety into newly commissioned IMO Type II vessel. | | / | / | PetroChina International seeks bunker sales manager to grow European marine fuels business The state oil major's trading arm is hiring in Rotterdam or London to expand bunker sales across the ARA region. | | / | / | WinGD signs global service agreement for TMS Cardiff Gas LNG carrier newbuilds WinGD will support six dual-fuel engines on three new LNG carriers for the Athens-based operator throughout their operational lives. | | / | / | Yangzijiang Xinfu delivers first 175,000-cbm LNG carrier built by Chinese private shipyard Vessel features two dual-fuel MAN B&W 5G70ME-C10.5-GA-EGR engines fitted with cryogenic units. | | / | / | LNG bunkering vessel Kaguya completes 200th ship-to-ship operation in Japan K Line's joint venture vessel reaches milestone in Mikawa Bay. | | / | / | Synergy Marine adds dual-fuel LPG carrier to managed fleet MFM Nicole joins Synergy's gas carrier portfolio as owners weigh fuel choices ahead of MEPC 85 negotiations. | | / | / | DSV to use CMA CGM's ACT+ solution to slash shipping emissions Danish firm targets 12,000-tonne reduction in CO[2] emissions over two years through the use of UCOME-based biofuels. | | / | / | Peninsula welcomes 2026 graduate cohort across global bunkering network Bunker firm brings new graduates into roles spanning Houston, Singapore, Gibraltar, Monaco and Las Palmas. | | / | / | Malik Supply appoints Mathias Krogsgård as bunker trader Danish bunker firm adds trader with export and technology background to growing team. | | / | / | Biofuel adoption in shipping shifts from debate to delivery, says Peninsula's Jeroen de Vos Marine biofuels have moved from pilot projects to routine fuel strategy, argues IBIA vice-chair. | | / |