| Are you already in the international brokerage | | | | are available in the CIS countries and in African |
| business or are you thinking of going into it and | | | | countries such as Congo, Angola, and South Africa. |
| wondering how to get fat commissions? If yes, you | | | | As for railway scrap (R50/R65), either uncut or cut |
| are no doubt looking for the right products to handle, | | | | to lengths of 1 or 1.5 meters, the best source is |
| where to find them, and how to propose them. | | | | Central Europe, especially Russia. Look for spot |
| The products which could assure you huge | | | | contracts of 30,000 metric tons or less or annual |
| commissions can be grouped into three categories: | | | | ones of 12 x 30,000 metric tons. Avoid any product |
| energy products; agricultural products; and mineral, | | | | labelled NHI because it is not serious. Ask for an FCO |
| metal, and material products. | | | | with performance bond (PB) and proof of product |
| Considering energy products, we can cite coke, coal, | | | | (POP). Offers which grant visits at the loading port |
| crude oil, fuel oil, jet fuel, Diesel D-2, liquefied | | | | for inspection may be genuine. As for iron ore, India, |
| petroleum gas (LPG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG). | | | | South Africa, Australia, and Brazil are the best origins. |
| The agricultural products of interest can be grouped | | | | Look for iron ore with 64.5% iron content. Offers are |
| under three sub-categories: plant oil, grains, and | | | | usually between 10,000 and 40,000 metric tons. Any |
| agrochemicals. Under plant oil, we may mention palm | | | | grade of Portland cement conforming to ASTM-C-150 |
| oil, sesame oil, rapeseed oil for biodiesel production, | | | | is acceptable. Ask for the specification or the grade |
| sunflower oil, and soybean oil; for grains, we have | | | | and the type of packaging. The best suppliers are |
| wheat, rice, and sugar; and concerning agrochemicals, | | | | from China, Russia, and Ukraine. |
| we can mention fertilizers such as UREA, NPK, and | | | | How can you get buyers for these offers? |
| DAP. | | | | The business-to-business portals also serve to sell |
| As for the minerals, metals, and materials, the | | | | goods. You can post selling trade leads there or look |
| sub-categories worth considering are metal wastes | | | | for buyers who have posted buying leads. But know |
| such as HMS (Heavy Metal Sheets) 1, HMS 1&2, | | | | that as a broker it may be difficult for you to sell on |
| and railway scrap; iron ore; and cement. | | | | the business websites, especially if you obtained the |
| Offers for all the products listed above can be | | | | offers online. For one thing, you can hardly compete |
| obtained on the various business portals. One can also | | | | with end sellers or their mandates, except where you |
| find suppliers online by searching with or any other | | | | are getting your commission from the seller’s |
| search engine. Just type, for example, | | | | net price. Secondly, buyers are wary of brokers |
| “suppliers of palm oil” into the browser | | | | because many have wasted their time in the past. |
| window and you’d receive huge search results. | | | | You may search for buyers online or look them up in |
| You can also find suppliers in exporters directories | | | | directories of importers or contact importers |
| and from exporters associations and chambers of | | | | associations and the chambers of commerce. |
| commerce. | | | | For energy products, companies in America and |
| However it is important to know the countries where | | | | Europe are always looking for them. Asian countries |
| these products are easily available. | | | | have also become major importers. Crude oil, |
| Coal is plentiful in Brazil and India. Coke also. For crude | | | | especially Nigerian BLCO, is in high demand. But no |
| oil, look towards Nigeria for Bonny Light Crude Oil | | | | one will consider an offer from a broker. The solution |
| (BLCO), Saudi Arabia, and the CIS countries, | | | | will be to join with a seller or his mandate. |
| especially Russia. Fuel oil, jet fuel, Diesel D-2, LNG and | | | | Fertilizers, edible oils, and grains are also used |
| LPG abound in the former Eastern European countries | | | | worldwide. A little research will tell you which type is |
| and in the Middle East. | | | | right for which region. |
| For the energy products, (and of course, for all | | | | The best place to offer HMS, railway scrap, and iron |
| products) preferably look for offers from end sellers | | | | ore is first China, then India, and in the third place |
| or sellers’ mandates only. Forget intermediaries | | | | Turkey. Cement is a worldwide commodity. |
| and facilitators; they will only waste your time. | | | | Your offer should be as professional as you would |
| Discounts are often between US$3 to US$5. Ask the | | | | expect from a seller. Don’t forget to ask your |
| seller to send you the Full Corporate Offer (FCO) | | | | buyers for proofs of funds (POF) and for proof of |
| under penalty of perjury or the draft contract plus | | | | previous performance. |
| banking coordinates. | | | | Now that you know the products to make your |
| You can obtain offers for the agrochemicals from | | | | dream of big commissions come true, where to get |
| Canada, China, the CIS countries (especially Ukraine), | | | | the offers, and how to get them to the right |
| and from Russia. Always ask for the specifications of | | | | market, all that is left for you to do is to get down |
| the products since there are different kinds of each. | | | | to work. |
| For example, we have NPK 10-20-20, NPK 10-20-15, | | | | SIDEBAR |
| and others. | | | | • The most notable business portals are: [ and |
| Look to Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia, and | | | | [ |
| Singapore, for palm and sesame oils; Canada for | | | | • Other search engines are: |
| rapeseed oil; and Brazil, Argentina, the US, and | | | | • From the comfort of your chair use search |
| Canada for sunflower and soybean oils. | | | | engines to find addresses where you can obtain |
| Concerning grains, the best sources for wheat are | | | | exporters directories (Type “exporters |
| North and South America, especially the US and Brazil. | | | | directories” into your browser window) and |
| As for rice, Asian countries such as Pakistan, India, | | | | where you can find exporters associations (Type in |
| Thailand, and Vietnam head the list of suppliers. Rice | | | | “exporters associations”) and chambers |
| is specified under “percentage broken.” | | | | of commerce (Type in “chambers of |
| Thus we have 5% broken rice, 10% broken, 15% | | | | commerce”). |
| broken, 25% broken, and so on. Each of these types | | | | • NPK fertilizer is the one containing 10% |
| has ready markets in certain parts of the world. For | | | | Nitrogen, 20% Phosphorous, and 20% Potassium. |
| instance, West Africa consumes 25% broken rice | | | | • Commissions on these businesses can range |
| most, principally because it is the cheapest. Basmati is | | | | from tens of thousands of dollars to hundred |
| premium rice and has a distinctive flavor. | | | | thousands and even a million dollars or more. Like |
| HMS 1, according to ISRI code 200-202 and HMS | | | | every good thing, it is not easy to earn. |
| 1&2 (80/20), according to ISRI code 200-206, | | | | |