About Us
Built On
Relationships.
Proven by results. Sustained by trust.
The Founding Story
Born From a
Friendship
AES Commodities was born from a friendship and a shared belief that the best business is built on the back of genuine relationships.
One founder spent years in the South African soft rock coal sector — accumulating deep industry knowledge, strong mentorship, and an extensive network built trade by trade, handshake by handshake. Through that experience came a clear recognition: the market needed a commodity trading partner that competed not on price alone, but on trust, integrity, and the quality of its relationships.
"The best deals are not won on price alone, but on trust, and the sustained relationship that follows."
From that insight, AES Commodities was founded. The company evolved naturally from that network into the hardrock mining and precious metals space — where it operates today, connecting verified suppliers with serious buyers and facilitating trades built to last.
Every trade, every handshake, every deal is underpinned by one unshakeable principle.
The People Behind AESC
Two Partners.
One Vision.
Founded by two partners who believed that the way you do business matters as much as the business you do.
Viv Hercules Mattheus Aspeling
Co-Founder & Partner
Built a career across the South African soft rock coal sector, accumulating hands-on industry knowledge and an extensive network of trusted counterparties over many years. Identified the opportunity to bring a relationship-first model to the hardrock mining and precious metals space — and co-founded AES Commodities to do exactly that. Drives the commercial strategy and client relationships that sit at the heart of everything AESC does.
A Trusted Partner
Co-Founder & Partner
AES Commodities was founded alongside a trusted friend and partner who shares the same vision and values the company was built on. Together, the two partners turned a long-standing friendship into a business defined by integrity, reliability, and the belief that the strongest deals are built on the strongest relationships.
"You cannot put a price on a strong relationship."
What We Stand For
Our Values
These are not aspirations. They are operating principles — non-negotiable in every trade, every conversation, every commitment.
Integrity
We say what we mean and mean what we say. Every commitment is a contract. Every word, an obligation. There are no exceptions and no circumstances that override this.
Relationships
We build for the long term. Every trade is an opportunity to strengthen a partnership, not just complete a transaction. The relationship always outlasts the deal.
Reliability
From inquiry to delivery, we do what we said we would. Consistency is not a target — it is the standard. Our counterparties depend on us, and we do not take that lightly.
Expertise
Decades of experience across coal, hardrock, and precious metals. We know this industry because we have lived it — and that knowledge is at the service of every client we work with.
