Ifchor is expanding its Asian bulker operations to tap growth.
The Swiss shipbroker said the office in Singapore will now have a new desk focusing on ships ranging from handysizes to ultramaxes.
The move is being made "in line with its strategy to increase its range of fully integrated broking services to support our clients in key geographies around the globe," the company added.
The new desk is headed by Sabrina Qian, who has more than 15 years of experience as a dry bulk broker in Asia.
She will be joined by two more experienced hands, Kevin Jee and Penny Panlin.
The team will be further supported by Angelo Iliceto in Singapore for Indonesian business.
"We are confident that under Sabrina’s leadership our team will grow to further diversify and strengthen our group’s services in this region," Ifchor said.
It already has six panamax and five capesize brokers in Singapore.
Last month, the company joined forces with US shipbroker McQuilling Partners in a Latin American dry bulk chartering partnership.
The joint-venture McQ-Ifchor will operate from McQuilling's offices in Lima, Peru.
It will be led by Jean Magot, who has worked for McQuilling since 2013.
Further staff are expected to join from Seattle, New York and Lausanne offices.
McQuilling opened an office in Lima in 2007 as the base for its Latin American business.
