Research Methodology

ZUG OIL applies a structured research methodology grounded in primary source documentation and established commodity market data providers. This page describes our core sources and how we use them.

Primary Data Sources

Price and Market Data

S&P Global Commodity Insights (Platts) Platts is the world’s principal price assessment service for crude oil and petroleum products. The daily Platts Market on Close (MOC) window is the mechanism through which Dated Brent — the global crude benchmark — is assessed. ZUG OIL references Platts price assessments for crude oil benchmarks (Dated Brent, WTI, Dubai/Oman), petroleum product prices, LNG spot prices (JKM, DES Atlantic, DES Pacific), and freight rates. We do not subscribe to real-time Platts data for publication; we reference publicly disclosed price data and published Platts reports and analyses.

Argus Media Argus Media is the second major global commodity price assessment service, competing with Platts across crude oil, refined products, LNG, biofuels, and emissions markets. Argus publications including the Argus Crude, Argus LNG Americas, Argus Biofuels, and Argus European Products reports inform our market coverage. Argus price assessments are particularly important for biofuel and emissions markets where Platts coverage is less comprehensive.

Reuters and Bloomberg Commodity Data Reuters and Bloomberg provide real-time and historical commodity price data, news, and analysis used for contextualising market developments in our editorial content. Reuters commodity market reporting and Bloomberg’s commodity intelligence are standard references for the energy trading industry and for our editorial team.

Company Data

Annual Reports and Financial Disclosures The major Swiss-based trading houses publish varying levels of financial disclosure. Vitol, Trafigura, Mercuria, Gunvor, and Glencore each publish annual reports of differing comprehensiveness. Glencore, as a London-listed public company, provides the most detailed disclosure under UK listing rules. Privately held houses (Vitol, Trafigura, Mercuria, Gunvor) publish voluntary annual reports and press releases. We use these primary company disclosures as the authoritative source for financial data, corporate structure, and strategic statements.

Trading company websites and press releases Official communications from trading houses are treated as primary source material for corporate development, leadership changes, and strategic announcements.

Swiss Government and Regulatory Sources

SECO — State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO is Switzerland’s principal authority for economic sanctions, export controls, and commodity trade regulation. SECO publishes the Swiss sanctions lists, enforcement reports, commodity trading annual reports, and guidance documents for compliance with Swiss economic measures. SECO’s annual report on commodity trading in Switzerland is a key primary source for data on the Swiss trading hub’s economic significance, number of trading companies, employment, and tax contributions.

Swiss Federal Council Reports on Commodity Trading The Federal Council has published landmark reports on Switzerland’s commodity trading sector, most notably the 2013 “Commodity Trading in Switzerland: Federal Council Background Report” and subsequent monitoring reports. These reports provide authoritative data on the size and structure of the Swiss trading sector, regulatory framework, and policy direction. They remain foundational reference documents for understanding Swiss commodity regulation.

FINMA — Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA supervises Swiss banks, securities dealers, insurance companies, and collective investment schemes. FINMA publications, enforcement actions, and regulatory guidance are relevant to the financing of commodity trades, structured commodity finance, and the oversight of trading companies with financial services activities.

Swiss Federal Customs Office and Federal Statistical Office Swiss trade statistics, customs data, and national accounts data inform our understanding of the commodity sector’s contribution to the Swiss economy.

International and Industry Sources

International Energy Agency (IEA) IEA publications — including the World Energy Outlook, Oil Market Report, and Gas Market Report — provide authoritative medium and long-term forecasts for global energy markets that inform our analysis of energy transition dynamics.

OPEC and OPEC+ Secretariat OPEC’s Monthly Oil Market Report and OPEC+ production agreement documentation inform our coverage of supply dynamics in crude oil markets.

Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) JODI provides harmonised oil and gas production and trade statistics from government sources, used for verifying supply and demand data.

Industry associations The Swiss Trading and Shipping Association (STSA) and the Geneva Trading and Shipping Association (GTSA) publish industry data, policy positions, and reports on the Swiss trading sector.

Editorial Standards

Attribution and Citation

Where we cite specific statistics, we identify the source. Where data is drawn from company annual reports, we specify the relevant financial year. Where market data is referenced, we identify the price assessment service.

Separation of Fact and Analysis

ZUG OIL articles are labelled to indicate whether they are factual intelligence briefings, analytical commentary, or encyclopedia reference entries. Opinion and analysis are clearly distinguished from factual reporting.

Corrections

We take accuracy seriously. If you identify a factual error in our published content, please contact [email protected] with “CORRECTION” in the subject line. Verified corrections are made promptly and noted on the affected article.

Independence

ZUG OIL has no commercial relationships with the companies it covers. We accept advertising, but advertising relationships do not influence editorial content. Our editorial team operates independently of our commercial team.

What We Do Not Do

• We do not publish forward-looking price forecasts as trading signals
• We do not provide real-time price data for trading purposes
• We do not offer subscription-based market intelligence services requiring regulated financial adviser status
• We do not publish non-public or inside information about trading companies or their positions

Questions about our methodology: [email protected]