As one of the world’s top private rice merchandizers, LDC plays a key role in the global trade of rice — a staple food that provides over one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide.
With strong sourcing capabilities from Asia and South America, and a leading distribution network across Africa, our Rice Platform works to connect supply and demand for this essential product, with a focus on quality, competitiveness and sustainable practices.
For Mert Güneri, our Rice Trader, this business is about much more than numbers and markets. It’s about strategy, connection, and impact. In this edition of Trade Talks, he shares what drew him to the world of commodities, why rice holds such significance and how relationships, resilience and strategy drive his day-to-day work in a fast-moving global market.
Q
What inspired you to become a Trader? What sparked your interest in this career?
A
Trading always appealed to me because of its dynamic nature — and it’s true: no two days are the same. The blend of strategy, market knowledge and human interaction sparked my interest early on, and the challenge to navigate markets and make the best decisions amid uncertainty keeps me engaged every day.
Q
Why trade rice, specifically?
A
Rice is a staple food for billions of people, making it one of the most essential commodities in the world. The complexity of its supply chain, influenced by both global markets and local traditions, makes trading rice both challenging and rewarding – the latter for its impact on food security and livelihoods.
What drew me to rice specifically was the exposure to highly fragmented markets across Asia and Africa. In most places across Africa, rice is more than just a product; it’s political, cultural and even emotional. Prices, consumer preferences and logistics vary widely from region to region. I remember a season when delays at origin due to heavy rains threatened our shipment planning into one market. We were upfront with our client, shared our constraints and worked closely with them to adjust arrival plans and maintain stock continuity. The mutual trust and understanding turned a difficult situation into a long-term partnership.
In South & Southeast Asia specifically, rice is deeply ingrained in culture, cuisine and politics. Proximity to both production and consumption helps traders better understand the sensitivities around pricing, quality and supply chain pressures, which underlines the importance of consistency, traceability and relationships.
Q
What key milestones in your career led you to your current position at LDC, and shaped the way you perceive our business?
A
One key milestone was my transition from logistics into trading — understanding the full journey of a commodity from origin to destination gave me a solid foundation for my current commercial role.
Working closely with experienced traders early in my career also shaped my approach. They took the time to walk me through their thought process, the risks they weighed and the way they built long-term relationships with clients. That mentorship gave me technical insight, but also a sense of the integrity and clarity needed to trade well over the long haul.
A memorable moment was closing my first direct trade with a new origin supplier. It wasn’t just about the transaction — it was about building trust, overcoming language barriers, and aligning mutual interests. It reminded me how much human connection drives this business.
Q
How has your role evolved since you first became a Trader? Do you see changes in the way trades are managed?
A
My role has evolved from executing trades to managing broader strategies and market intelligence. More broadly, I see digitalization and data science increasingly transforming the way trades are done, and decisions are made, as they drive growing access to information and greater operational efficiency.
Still, the essence of trading remains the same. As I said, it’s about trust, as a basis for any positive relationship. And relationships are at the heart of trading. Whether with suppliers, customers or logistics partners, trust and transparency are essential. Strong partnerships help navigate market volatility, unlock opportunities and ensure value creation for all parties involved.
Q
What influences your trading decisions?
A
Market fundamentals, geopolitical developments, weather patterns, and supply chain dynamics all play a role. However, the key is blending data analysis with insights from conversations with market participants; combining hard facts with intuition built through experience.
Q
What do you know today that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?
A
Patience and resilience are just as important as market knowledge. Not every trade will go your way, but staying focused, learning from setbacks and building strong relationships will always pay off in the long run.
