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‘Pack your bags, we’re
moving to Mexico’
Recycling International regularly spotlights individual scrap traders around the globe. Here we give
the floor to Karima Ngadi Scarpetta of Colombia.
MEET KARIMA…
‘I’ve worked in the scrap metal trade for 15 years, cur-
rently for commodity trading firm Marex. The company
has seriously grown recently by acquiring Tangent
Trading and Global Metals Network. As senior trader, I’m
responsible for South America. I buy scrap from suppliers
in Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Colombia
and sell to customers in Asia – mostly China, Japan,
Malaysia, South Korea, and India.’
GLOBAL CITIZEN
‘I currently live in Mexico City but my roots are in Bogotá,
Colombia. This job takes you anywhere. I’ve lived in
Belgium, Peru, London, and Chile among other places. I
love Colombia but I can easily live elsewhere. In 2023 we
had the opportunity to move again so I told my husband:
“Pack your bags, we’re going to Mexico City”. He works
for Reuters and is not really tied to one place either.’
FREQUENT FLYER
‘In the beginning there was a lot of travel. You have to
do that to get to know the suppliers you’re doing busi-
ness with. But once you know them and have built a
steady relationship, one physical visit a year is OK.
Mostly, I take a plane but in Colombia I plan a two-week
road trip by car each year to visit all my suppliers.’
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB
‘After studying International Business, I had an ambition
to work in a global business with a link to the environ-
ment. I can now say I have kind of found that combina-
tion in the scrap commodity trade.
‘In scrap trading it’s all about relationships. Seeing peo-
ple, talking to them and truly connecting is crucial. At
the end of the day, we traders all do much the same so it
comes to making a difference in building strong relation-
ships. Luckily, I love doing that.’
FAVOURITE TRADE SHOW/CONFERENCE
‘The ISRI Convention & Expo is a great event but I also
like the smaller, local shows I attend across Latin
America. For example, in Mexico there are specific con-
gresses and trade shows for aluminium.’
CHALLENGES AHEAD
‘Markets are moving fast and we’re seeing the impact of
recession and inflation in many places. The good news is
commodity prices have gone up again in recent weeks
which offers hope for us, the traders. Let’s put it this way:
at Marex we believe it’s going up a little more.’
A U T H O R & P H O T O Martijn Reintjes
84-85_trader.indd 84 24-04-2024 14:29
