Goldman Sachs no longer one of top three commodities banks

LONDON, March 22 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs lost itsplace among the top three earners of commodities-related revenuein 2017, falling below rivals JPMorgan, Morgan Stanleyand Citibank for the first time, data fromanalytics firm Coalition showed.

U.S.-based investment bank Goldman has been among the topthree since Coalition started compiling the figures in 2010,having a longstanding reputation for generating revenue fromcommodities trading, derivatives and other activities.

However, last year Goldman's commodities business posted oneof its worst results on record and it is now trying to boostperformance, creating a new commodities finance team to drum upbusiness from corporate clients.

Coalition said JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley had the largestrevenue in the commodities sector last year, followed by Citi.Coalition ranks the twelve largest investment banks. It did notprovide revenue figures.

Last year Goldman led the rankings, followed by JPMorgan andCiti in third place. Morgan Stanley was last placed in the topthree in 2014, when it ranked third.

Banks' commodity revenues have been on a steady downwardpath in recent years as they exited or shrank their commoditybusinesses due to more stringent regulation and poor performancefrom the sector.

Revenue in the commodities sector at the 50 biggestinvestment banks was $4.3 billion last year, the lowest in morethan a decade and down from $15.9 billion in 2008 at the peak ofthe commodities cycle, according to Coalition.

The twelve banks included in Coalition's ranking are Bank ofAmerica Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, JP Morgan, MorganStanley, Societe Generale and UBS.(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)