AI transforming commodity trading from reactive decision making to predictive intelligence

- Veson Nautical expert tells conference that quality maritime data is essential to the rapidly digitalizing sector

The global commodity trading sector is undergoing a seismic shift where artificial intelligence (AI) is helping traders transition from the traditional norm of reactive decision making to predictive intelligence according to Philippe Pagnotta, Senior Product Manager at Veson Nautical, a global leader in maritime data and freight management solutions.

Speaking on the panel “Innovation and AI – How Do You Manage to Go Beyond the Buzzword?” at the Commodity Trading Week Europe conference being held in London, Pagnotta told delegates that AI was already a core driver of creating a decision advantage in the rapidly digitizing world of commodity trading and that this would accelerate even faster in the future.

“We’re entering a new era where technology is no longer experimental in commodity trading—it’s essential,” Pagnotta said. “AI is helping firms shift from reactive decision making to making calculated predictions based on AI modelling of quality data.”  

Pagnotta added that solutions needed to go beyond mere automation if they wanted to fundamentally transform how traders, charterers, and analysts operate in real time.

He pointed out that commodity and energy trading firms today resemble quantitative hedge funds from a decade ago, where machine learning, big data, and AI are central to gaining market edge.

“There isn’t even a comparison that comes close to what AI can help skilled traders achieve,” Pagnotta said. “The new level of precision in forecasting, risk modeling, and market responsiveness goes way beyond what human intuition or spreadsheets have managed in the past.”

Pagnotta also said that maritime data is increasingly being used to train advanced trading algorithms, giving desks a competitive edge in markets where timing and precision are everything.

He cited Veson’s own AI-driven solutions such as Shipfix that use highly validated and contextual data to help clients anticipate commodity flows, freight availability, and price volatility by processing billions of unstructured communications. This allows teams to extract structured data from emails and documents, automating manual workflows and accelerating decision cycles.

“AI is not just transforming how we analyze the market—it’s reshaping how organizations make decisions, manage exposure, and capture opportunities,” concluded Pagnotta. “The firms that embrace AI as a core capability—not just a tool—are the ones that will lead in the next decade of global trade.”

■ Contact: Veson Nautical www.veson.com