We act as a licensed intermediary and strategic advisor in the international physical trade of energy commodities — diesel, crude oil, fuel oil, and natural gas — governing every transaction under internationally recognised contract standards, inspection protocols, and trade regulations.
We facilitate physical delivery transactions for the following energy products, connecting verified buyers with authorised sellers across global supply chains.
Gas Oil / Diesel D2 per GOST standards and EN 590 for European markets. Available in FOB, CIF, or DES terms from multiple origins.
Physical crude oil brokerage across major global benchmarks. We facilitate spot and term contracts for refineries, traders, and sovereign buyers.
Marine and industrial fuel oil brokerage under IMO 2020 sulphur regulations, including VLSFO and ULSFO compliant grades for bunker and power generation use.
Natural gas and LNG trade facilitation including spot cargoes and long-term supply agreements indexed to TTF, NBP, or Henry Hub benchmarks.
Live indicative reference prices for key energy commodities, updated continuously. Based on international benchmark indices (Platts, Argus, ICE). All prices in USD. For transaction pricing, official Platts/Argus assessments on the bill of lading date apply.
Every transaction we manage follows a structured, internationally recognised procedure that protects all parties and ensures regulatory compliance from mandate to delivery.
The transaction begins when a seller or buyer submits a formal trade mandate to Unoliva-Tech. Both parties and any intermediaries sign a Non-Circumvention, Non-Disclosure Agreement (NCNDA) and, where applicable, an Inter-Mediary Fee Protection Agreement (IMFPA), establishing the legal framework for commission protection under ICC rules.
The buyer issues a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the seller, specifying the desired commodity, quantity, quality specifications, preferred delivery terms (Incoterms), target price, and proposed payment method. The LOI is a non-binding commercial expression governed by good-faith negotiation principles under the CISG (UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods).
In response to the LOI, the seller issues a Full Corporate Offer (FCO) — a detailed, binding commercial offer that confirms availability, exact specifications, price, delivery schedule, and payment terms. The FCO is signed by an authorised company director and forms the basis of subsequent contract negotiations.
Upon accepting the FCO, the buyer issues an Irrevocable Corporate Purchase Order (ICPO) — a legally binding, irrevocable commitment to purchase the stated commodity under the agreed terms. The ICPO must be on company letterhead, notarised, and include the buyer's bank details and authorised signatory. This document triggers the contract drafting phase.
Unoliva-Tech facilitates drafting and review of the Sales & Purchase Agreement (SPA), the master contract that governs the entire transaction. The SPA incorporates commodity specs, quantity tolerance (±5% MOLOO), price escalation clauses, force majeure provisions, arbitration clauses (ICC or LCIA), and penalty terms for non-performance by either party.
Payment is secured through bank-issued financial instruments — Documentary Letter of Credit (LC) issued under UCP 600 rules, Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC), or Bank Guarantee (BG). All instruments must be issued by a prime bank (Top 25 world banks by asset) rated A– or above by S&P, Moody's or Fitch. MT700 / MT760 SWIFT messaging protocols are used.
Prior to shipment, an independent third-party inspection body — typically SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) or CIQ (China Inspection & Quarantine) — performs a Quantity and Quality (Q&Q) inspection at the loading port. This ensures the commodity meets contracted specifications and that the stated volume is verified. The Q&Q Certificate is required for LC document presentation.
The cargo is shipped under the agreed Incoterms. A full shipping document set — Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, SGS Q&Q Certificate, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, and Insurance Certificate — is presented to the buyer's bank for LC negotiation and payment release. Intermediary commissions are disbursed per the IMFPA upon successful bank-to-bank payment.
Understanding the standard legal instruments used in international energy commodity trading is essential to conducting compliant, enforceable transactions.
Protects all intermediaries and parties from being bypassed or their confidential information disclosed without consent. Typically governed by ICC rules and enforceable in signatory jurisdictions. Valid for 1–5 years.
ICC 400 / UNIDROITIrrevocably commits all principals to pay agreed commission fees to intermediaries upon successful transaction completion. Specifies fee percentages, payment timeline, and bank coordinates. Binds the seller's bank to disburse fees directly.
International Commercial LawA non-binding document issued by the buyer expressing interest in purchasing a specific commodity under stated terms. It initiates negotiations and allows the seller to prepare a Full Corporate Offer. Must specify product, quantity, quality, Incoterms, and price target.
CISG / Good Faith PrincipleA formal, binding commercial offer from the seller confirming product availability, specifications, price, delivery terms, and validity period. Issued on corporate letterhead by an authorised director. Acceptance by the buyer triggers the ICPO.
Binding Commercial OfferThe buyer's formal, irrevocable commitment to purchase upon receipt and acceptance of the FCO. Must be on official company letterhead, signed by an authorised signatory, and may require notarisation. Triggers SPA contract drafting and LC issuance.
Binding Purchase CommitmentThe master contract governing the transaction in full — commodity specs, quantity, price formula, delivery schedule, payment terms, force majeure, penalties, arbitration, and jurisdiction. Typically governed by English law and ICC arbitration rules.
English Law / ICC ArbitrationA bank-issued, internationally standardised payment instrument governed by ICC's Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600). Guarantees payment to the seller upon compliant document presentation, providing security to both parties.
ICC UCP 600A secondary payment guarantee — a bank promise to pay the beneficiary if the applicant defaults. Governed by ISP98 (International Standby Practices) or UCP 600. Transmitted via SWIFT MT760 and typically valid for 1 year.
ISP98 / SWIFT MT760A multi-function shipping document: (1) receipt of cargo from the shipper, (2) contract of carriage between shipper and carrier, and (3) title document conveying ownership of the cargo. Issued by the shipping line under Hague-Visby Rules. Required for LC presentation and customs clearance.
Hague-Visby Rules / UNCITRALPublished by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Incoterms 2020 define the responsibilities, costs, and risk transfer points between buyer and seller in international trade. We structure every energy commodity transaction under the most appropriate term for the cargo type, origin port, and buyer requirements.
Seller delivers when cargo crosses the ship's rail at the named loading port. Buyer bears all costs and risk from that point. Buyer arranges freight and insurance. Most common for crude oil and bulk fuel transactions.
Seller delivers when cargo is on board the vessel and pays for freight and insurance to the destination port. Risk transfers to buyer once on board. Seller handles export clearance; buyer handles import clearance and unloading.
Seller bears all risk and costs to deliver the cargo to the named destination port on board the vessel, ready for unloading. Risk transfers when cargo is made available to the buyer at the discharge port. No longer in Incoterms 2010+ but widely used in energy spot markets under custom SPA terms.
Seller delivers when the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal at the named destination, ready for unloading. Seller bears all costs and risk to that point excluding import duties. Used for pipeline gas deliveries and terminal-to-terminal transactions.
Like CIF but without seller-arranged insurance. Seller pays freight to destination port; buyer arranges insurance from loading. Risk transfers on loading. Common in fuel oil and LPG trades where buyers have their own marine insurance policies.
Minimum seller obligation — goods made available at seller's premises. Buyer arranges all transport, export clearance, and insurance from that point. Used for pipeline gas at production facilities or refinery gate sales where the buyer controls logistics.
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification company, headquartered in Geneva. In energy commodity trade, SGS inspectors perform independent Quantity and Quality (Q&Q) assessments at the loading terminal, ensuring the cargo loaded matches the contracted specifications and volume before the Bill of Lading is issued.
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), formerly AQSIQ/CIQ, is the competent authority for inspection and quarantine of imported and exported commodities into China. For energy commodity shipments destined for Chinese ports, CIQ certification is mandatory and legally required for customs clearance under Chinese import regulations.
All transactions brokered by Unoliva-Tech are conducted within a strict multi-layered compliance framework covering international trade law, financial regulations, and commodity-specific standards.
Transactions are structured under internationally recognised legal frameworks that provide enforceable rights and obligations across jurisdictions.
Unoliva-Tech applies rigorous KYC/AML standards to all counterparties and is committed to preventing sanctioned entity involvement in any transaction.
Energy commodities are subject to national and international product standards, environmental regulations, and sector-specific rules.
All cross-border commodity flows require full customs documentation and, in some cases, export licences from the originating country's competent authority.
Depending on the deal structure and client need, Unoliva-Tech can operate in multiple capacities within a single transaction.
We introduce and connect verified buyers and sellers, manage the documentary flow, and ensure both parties fulfil their contractual obligations. We receive a negotiated commission (typically 0.5–2% of transaction value) paid by the seller upon successful completion, per the IMFPA.
We advise clients on deal structure, contract terms, price benchmarks (Platts, Argus, ICE), Incoterms selection, payment instrument optimisation, and regulatory compliance — without acting as principal in the transaction. Retainer or success-fee basis.
We hold a signed, exclusive mandate from a seller or buyer to represent them in a transaction — authorised to receive and present offers, negotiate terms, and sign commercial documents on their behalf within defined parameters. Mandate is registered with all parties.
We conduct independent due diligence on counterparties — corporate registration verification, beneficial ownership mapping, sanctions screening, trade history assessment, and bank reference checks — reducing fraud risk in transactions involving new or unfamiliar parties.
For FOB buyers or CIF sellers, we coordinate vessel chartering through reputable shipbrokers, arrange marine insurance (Institute Cargo Clauses A), oversee SGS appointment, manage laytime and demurrage tracking, and supervise port agency and NOR (Notice of Readiness) procedures.
When disputes arise over quality, quantity, payment, or delivery, we assist parties in pre-arbitration negotiation, evidence gathering, and documentation review — and can refer to accredited ICC or LCIA arbitration panels when amicable resolution is not achievable.
Unoliva-Tech operates as a commodity broker and trade advisor. We do not hold, store, or take title to physical energy commodities. All transactions are conducted between principals (sellers and buyers) with Unoliva-Tech acting as facilitator or advisor. Prospective counterparties should conduct their own legal and financial due diligence. The presence of standard trade terminology (LOI, FCO, ICPO, etc.) on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contractual offer. All engagements are formalised through signed mandate agreements and governed by applicable law.
Whether you are a verified seller with allocation, a buyer seeking supply, or a company requiring trade advisory support — contact our energy trading desk to begin.