Amphora reports record Q1 demand for CTRM solutions despite market volatility

Amphora's director of sales and marketing, David Glasspool, told CTRM Center that the first quarter of 2026, and March in particular, was the company's busiest period for solution demonstrations since it began tracking the metric in 2021. Glasspool attributed the surge to sustained demand for CTRM capabilities amid ongoing geopolitical disruption and volatility in global commodity markets, alongside continued momentum in the Middle East, where Amphora has signed three new clients so far this year.

Of the three new Middle East clients, one is now live and two are in implementation. "We get invited to virtually every deal going down in the area these days," Glasspool said. "Our brand awareness there is very strong, helped by a local presence." He noted a particularly strong win rate in oil and refined products, with growing traction across broader commodities.

Glasspool identified two distinct groups driving regional demand: new start-ups building their trading operations from scratch, and firms three to five years old that have outgrown spreadsheet-based processes. "Volatility and risk exposure are forcing the upgrade," he said. "Middle office teams working until midnight on workarounds is no longer acceptable." Recruitment is a factor too: "Experienced traders ask what systems a company uses during the recruitment process, and use of Excel is not viewed positively by new recruits."

Glasspool also pointed to Amphora's claims module as a strong differentiator. "It handles demurrage, quantity, and quality disputes, syncing negotiations directly into Symphony's P&L and triggering invoicing on finalization," he said. With Amphora approaching 30 years in business next year, he cited longevity as an additional signal of stability for prospective clients.

Despite the positive demand signals, Glasspool acknowledged two competing macro effects. "High volatility drives urgency to get a proper system, but uncertainty can also cause companies to freeze projects and focus on day-to-day operations," he said. This dynamic is reflected in some deals pausing at the final demonstration stage even as new inbound enquiries continue at pace.

Read the full interview at CTRM Center: CTRM demand rises amid market turbulence, despite deal hesitation