OREANDA-NEWS. Cargill has announced its intention to close the London office of its ocean transportation arm, as the company consolidates its freight activities onto Geneva.

Cargill’s decision was taken in the light of the challenges being faced by the freight market, which is in its most distressed position since the mid-1980s, a situation that looks likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

The reduction in dry bulk demand led by China and the general slowdown in the global economy have led to a significant over supply in the dry bulk freight market at a moment when many new builds are being delivered. This has led to a need for Cargill to adjust its organization to be as efficient as possible, while not compromising relationships with key owners and customers and to maintain the highest safety and operating standards.

Roger Janson, head of Cargill’s ocean transportation business explained: “This has been a difficult decision, given the track record of our London office, which has played a very important role over the years, particularly in developing our relationship with the ship owning community in the London market. It has also served as an important talent pipeline, with many of our global employees having been hired in London. However, in today’s world where means of communication have changed, connections between big cities are efficient and affordable and our relationships with the owners are good, the time is right for the activities of the London office to be consolidated into Geneva.”

Cargill has 10 employees currently located at its ocean transportation office in London and a consultation period with them has begun.

Cargill has more than 50 years of experience of addressing customers’ shipping needs. The company uses its extensive risk management and trading expertise as well as internal network to serve its customers more efficiently and reliably so that they get a competitive edge in the market place. Cargill Ocean Transportation manages over 500 dry bulk vessels, ships over 220 million metric tons of 100 different dry bulk commodities and makes over 12,000 port calls per year across the globe, serving more than 400 global customers.

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience.