Thoughts, concepts, and general information for the CTRM Universe.
*With respectful nods to Douglas Adams and the brilliance of the Hitchhiker’s Guide, this is purely a parody for educational purposes.
In the volatile galaxy of commodity trading, 2025 brings ongoing challenges like geopolitical disruptions, softer commodity prices, and regulatory pressures. With 59% of commodity markets seeing price declines this year due to economic slowdowns, per industry reports, the demand for efficient CTRM (Commodity Trading and Risk Management) tools is surging.
What is CTRM? CTRM stands for Commodity Trading and Risk Management (sometimes called ETRM in the energy business). It refers to software systems used by companies that buy, sell, or process commodities—like energy, agriculture, or metals—to manage their trading activities and financial exposure. CTRM software helps track trades, manage pricing,
If you’re unfamiliar with how this process works—especially if you’re not a large company with a dedicated software procurement team capable of issuing RFPs for vendor comparisons—here’s a typical scenario: You’re looking for a system to upgrade your internal processes. Perhaps a new CTO has initiated a digital transformation. Great!
I have worked in the CTRM space for 20+ years and I have seen systems come and go. One thing that has remained constant is that Excel is still King. There is good reason for that. It’ pretty good and it get’s the job done for most scenarios. In fact,
In the world of food service, one of the most significant challenges businesses face is managing the impact of commodity price volatility. The costs of ingredients like wheat, dairy, meat, and produce can fluctuate wildly due to various factors such as weather, geopolitical events, and shifts in supply and demand.
So, you think it’s time to move from Excel to a more robust Commodity Trading and Risk Management system. Maybe you just want to see what’s out there or maybe there is another driver for your decision. If you have little experience with these types of decisions or CTRM systems,