Strategic shift at VAIT: new Shareholder brings strong focus on international agricultural trade
Linz, 9 May 2025. VA Intertrading AG (VAIT), Austria’s leading international trading house, is undergoing a strategic realignment. With Christian Jörg as the new CEO, the entry of Brazil’s Sipal Group as a partner, and the withdrawal from the steel trade, VAIT is now concentrating fully on global agricultural commodities trading. The focus will be on grains, oilseeds, and integrated logistics and financing solutions. “This marks a genuine new beginning in a time of major transformation. Competing on global markets will be a great challenge, and I’m excited to tackle it with my motivated team,” says Christian Jörg. The 58-year-old Swiss national has been leading VAIT as CEO since 1 January 2025. He brings with him many years of experience from international agricultural and trading companies, including SALIC, SGS, Viterra, and UBS. Under his leadership, VAIT will focus on strategic clarity, economies of scale, and risk management. “We are aligning VAIT for stable growth and international competitiveness. Agricultural trade is volatile, and the key is to manage this volatility with precision,” says Jörg
Strategic investment by Sipal Group
With Sipal Group – one of Brazil’s leading agricultural companies, boasting extensive infrastructure and direct market access – VAIT gains a strong strategic partner. Sipal brings over 30 years of experience in Brazilian agricultural trade and operates storage capacities of three million tonnes. This partnership not only secures access to the South American market but also provides excellent information directly from producers. “The family behind Sipal originally comes from Tyrol. This partnership brings things full circle – with great potential,” Jörg notes. “We now have improved access to market intelligence directly from Brazilian farmers, which also helps us better assess global price developments.”
Switzerland as new strategic Hub
As part of its realignment, VAIT is opening a location in Geneva – the international centre for agricultural commodities trading. From there, “directional trading” will be managed, based on technical, fundamental, and macroeconomic analyses.
Linz remains Headquarters
Despite increasing internationalisation, Linz remains the centre of corporate management. “My base is, and will remain, in Linz,” Jörg emphasises. Further expansion plans include a new location in Singapore to cover the Asian region.
2025 as a transitional year
The new strategy is ambitious and well supported internally. During his first 100 days in office, Jörg has restructured the leadership team, streamlined business units, and initiated a new corporate culture. “We have a clear vision, excellent teams, and a strong brand,” says Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mag. Florian Hagenauer, MBA, who is convinced of the company’s successful repositioning.
About VA Intertrading Aktiengesellschaft
Founded in 1978 under the name Voest-Alpine Intertrading GmbH, VAIT has grown into one of Austria’s leading trading companies. In 2024, the annual turnover amounted to approximately EUR 530 million. About 70 of the 770 employees (based across five continents in twelve countries) work at the Linz site. The trading of agricultural commodities, agricultural machinery, and pharmaceuticals accounts for around 90 percent of Intertrading’s revenue. In addition to trading activities, VA Intertrading AG also offers logistics services. www.vait.com
Shareholders:
Tello Holding AG 71,4286 %
OE SASR Beta Dreiundachtzigste Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH 14,2857 %
„IBG“ Intertrading Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH 14,2857 %
