Who Really Controls the World’s Oil, Food and Metals? - The Secret World of Commodity Traders (ep. 237)

Who really controls the flow of oil, metals, and food around the world? In this episode, we explore the hidden world of commodity trading and the powerful traders who shape the global economy. Inspired by the bestselling book The World for Sale by Javier Blas and Jack Farchy, this conversation reveals how a small group of traders influence global markets, geopolitics, and financial systems. We discuss how commodity trading works, who the key players are, and why companies like Glencore, Vitol, and Cargill hold enormous economic power. The episode explores how these traders operate in high-risk environments, often navigating political instability and global crises to secure valuable resources. We also examine the four major global developments that transformed commodity markets: the opening of previously closed economies, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the rapid economic rise of China, and the growing financialization of global markets. Along the way, we explore how fear and greed drive markets, why traders often buy during times of crisis, and how financial instruments such as futures and options allow speculation on commodities without ever touching physical goods. If you want to understand how global markets really work - and how politics, finance, and natural resources intersect - this episode offers a fascinating look into one of the most influential yet secretive industries in the world economy. All the love, all the power, all of the time! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link: https://linktr.ee/w.salski Instagram: / unusual.stories_podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WS_Podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2bcP2r30SdpUuUCU6Jmnk9?si=ce70a31da4d04854 Primal.net: @wspodcast Link to the book on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/05mUNMca Related Media: "Let's Talk About Money" - https://fountain.fm/episode/tZY2v4MyKpZLto6U13Bl "The Creature from Jekyll Island" - https://fountain.fm/episode/vgDpH28sM1q3DbM7h7r9 "Psychology of Money" - https://fountain.fm/episode/gReodmLToRnWwZ06afiC "The Black Swan" - https://fountain.fm/episode/tAtbEebsvxVDqsi5MQXf "New Confessions of Economic Hitman" - https://fountain.fm/episode/PQCF1Jrp2ihVjCJZk7Lu Simon Dixon Hard Talk - https://fountain.fm/show/KkbRGlYpogiteOTyZupi