The supply and trading of crude oil - sometimes known as 'black gold' - and oil products is crucial to the operations of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.

'Shell in the Middle East' conducts in-depth and exclusive interviews with senior executives from the Royal Dutch/Shell Group to examine Shell Trading's operations in the lifting, trading and supply of crude oil and oil products both globally and, more specifically, in the Middle East.

The result is a transparent account which details, country by country, Shell Trading's activities throughout the Middle East, describing the current crude oil allocation process and explaining the different pricing structures that apply to Middle East crude oils.

• Shell Trading - A Global Picture
• Shell Trading - The Middle East Perspective
• Shell Trading - Oil Products & The Middle East

Defining Shell Trading

In this article the name 'Shell Trading' is used as the collective term to cover the global network of Shell companies involved in oil trading.

The network has at its core Shell Trading and Shipping Co. (STASCO) in London, Shell International Eastern Trading Co. in Singapore and Shell Trading US Co. (STASCO) in Houston. The newly established Shell Trading International Middle East (SITMEL) in Dubai and Shell West in Barbados work in the network, as do Shell Companies in Rotterdam and Tokyo.

This means that the Royal Dutch/Shell Group has a network of companies engaged in trading activities that between them are open seven days a week, and 24 hours a day.