Alkagesta Appoints Darren Axisa as Country Manager for Malta

Malta-headquartered commodity trading firm Alkagesta has named Darren Axisa as its new Country Manager for Malta, elevating him from his former position as Operations Manager. The promotion comes as the group expands its commercial footprint across the central Mediterranean logistics corridor and strengthens its domestic operational leadership, local media reported.

Axisa brings nearly two decades of maritime, energy, and testing, inspection and certification (TIC) sector background to the role. He started his career as a surveyor with Saybolt in 2007 before spending over thirteen years at Bureau Veritas between 2009 and May 2023, coordinating with trading desks, oil majors, and terminal operators. He subsequently joined Alkagesta in June 2023 to manage logistics, storage integration, and operational growth.

Mediterranean Storage and Marine Fuel Reach

Established in 2018, Alkagesta has evolved from supplying regional import requirements to managing nearly 300,000 cubic metres of oil storage capacity across Evos Malta and Enemalta facilities. The firm utilises these assets for quality correction, arbitrage flows across continental Europe, North Africa, and East of Suez, as well as marine fuel bunkering and utility supply.

The trading house was also an early regional supplier adjusting to the 0.1% sulphur cap mandated under the Mediterranean Emission Control Area implemented in 2025. Outside marine fuels, the group recently secured a contract to deliver jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel blends through NATO's 5,000-kilometre Central European Pipeline System, supplying key hubs including Brussels and Frankfurt.

Expansion in Traded Volumes and Local Expenditure

The firm's overall traded volumes expanded from roughly 5.2 million metric tonnes in 2023 to more than 8.7 million metric tonnes in 2025. Corresponding group revenues grew from approximately $3.1 billion to around $4.7 billion across the two-year period.

In Malta, the trading house recorded direct operational and corporate spending of roughly €50 million in 2025, supporting maritime services such as pilotage, tug operations, port calls, and testing agencies. The group is also involved in sustainability initiatives, including the export of used cooking oil to support renewable fuel production alongside ESG and community programmes.

Axisa stated that his focus will centre on expanding the company's regional logistics network, infrastructure investments, and local talent development in risk management, compliance, and physical trading.

Sources

• MaltaToday — original report