Glencore's traders said they expect to book a strong first-half performance after conflict in the Middle East triggered chaos across energy markets and metal prices remained elevated.
The London-listed commodities giant said Wednesday that its marketing division, which houses its energy and metal traders, is set to report adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of around $3.3 billion. That is more than double the $1.4 billion the unit booked in the same period last year.
Glencore didn't break out the unit's performance and is expected to provide more information alongside its first-half earnings next week.
The marketing unit is likely to drive upgrades to consensus expectations for the second half and beyond, Jefferies' Christopher LaFemina wrote. Management had previously said the division's performance would normalize over the remainder of the year but continued energy-market disruption suggests there could be further upside, LaFemina said.
Shares were up nearly 3% at 521.5 pence in mid-morning London trade.
Glencore's energy traders are among the world's largest buyers and sellers of crude oil and its products. Traders source commodities and sell them to customers around the world. They also buy from third parties with the goal of selling on for a higher price. Benefiting from price differences--or arbitrage--across locations is central to how traders make money.
The war between the U.S. and Iran that broke out earlier this year created the market conditions that energy traders thrive on, leading oil majors and specialized trading firms to post large profits. Closure of the key Strait of Hormuz chokepoint on the Persian Gulf left countries scrambling for replacement oil and gas supplies, while jet fuel and diesel commanded high premiums.
At the same time, prices for copper remained elevated and aluminum prices were boosted by a squeeze on supply from the Middle East.
Glencore said copper production for the first six months of the year rose 15% to 397,000 metric tons. The company has made copper central to its strategy and is investing heavily to become one of the world's largest miners of the metal.
The company kept its full-year production guidance for copper, zinc and nickel unchanged. The mid-points of its energy and steelmaking coal guidance were changed, rising by 1 million tons and falling by 1 million tons, respectively.
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