Trafigura secures German-backed financing for long-term gas supply agreement
Trafigura has signed a five-year US$1.5 billion loan agreement linked to a new natural gas supply contract with SEFE Securing Energy for Europe, supporting the delivery of gas to Germany and other European markets.
Under the supply agreement, Trafigura will deliver 30 TWh of natural gas annually to SEFE over five years, representing a total contracted volume of 150 TWh. Deliveries are scheduled to begin on 1 November 2026 and continue until November 2031.
The arrangement extends the companies’ existing commercial relationship. According to SEFE, the new contract follows a four-year agreement expiring at the end of October 2026, under which annual contracted volumes were approximately 23 TWh.
The gas will be sourced primarily from Trafigura’s global portfolio, allowing the company to draw on its international procurement and logistics network to meet the contracted supply requirements.
German guarantee supports financing
The loan is supported in part by a guarantee under Germany’s Untied Loan Guarantee (UFK) programme, administered through Euler Hermes. The government-backed mechanism is intended to facilitate access to strategically important raw materials and commodities by supporting financing arrangements associated with long-term supply contracts.
The five-year financing facility was arranged by a syndicate of nine banks, with KfW IPEX-Bank serving as Facility Agent and Export Credit Agency Coordinator and Agent.
Participating lenders identified in the announcement include Commerzbank, DBS Bank’s London branch, DZ BANK, J.P. Morgan, KfW IPEX-Bank, Lloyds and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation.
For SEFE, the new agreement increases contracted annual volumes from Trafigura while maintaining access to supplies sourced through an international gas portfolio.
The transaction also illustrates the role of government-supported financing in securing long-term energy procurement. The US$1.5 billion figure represents the loan facility rather than the disclosed commercial value of the gas supply contract.
Neither company specified individual gas production sources, LNG shipping arrangements or receiving terminals associated with the contracted volumes.
The agreement adds to SEFE’s long-term procurement arrangements as the company continues to diversify its natural gas supply portfolio for customers in Germany and across Europe.
