Vitol Group, one of the world's largest commodity trading companies, paid $5.9 billion to its top executives and senior employees last year through share buybacks. This payout came even as the company's profit fell sharply.
According to a report, Vitol's profit more than halved to $4.2 billion in 2025. The company's earnings had been boosted in previous years by high energy prices and market volatility. However, as conditions normalized, profits declined.
The $5.9 billion payout was part of Vitol's profit-sharing scheme, which rewards staff with shares that the company later buys back. This model is common among privately held commodity traders. The payments went to about 400 senior staff, including executives and traders.
Despite the drop in profit, the total payout was still significant, reflecting the company's practice of distributing a large portion of its earnings to employees. Vitol is based in Switzerland and trades crude oil, refined products, natural gas, and other commodities worldwide.
The company's results highlight how commodity trading firms can generate huge profits during periods of price swings, but also experience sharp declines when markets stabilize. Vitol's profit in 2024 had been much higher, but the exact figure was not provided in the report.
Industry observers note that such payouts are typical for commodity trading firms, where talent retention is key. However, the size of the payment relative to profit has drawn attention. Vitol did not comment on the payout beyond the reported figures.