Kpler, the commodity data and analytics firm, has expanded its coverage of the dry bulk markets to include agricultural commodities.
The Francois Cazor-led company claims the move brings real-time visibility to 90% of the global seaborne trade across more than 17 food and feed commodities, including wheat, corn, barley, soybeans and soybean meal.
Recent supply disruptions, such as the war in Ukraine and global inflation, coupled with the need to track the resilience of the food security supply chain were key drivers behind the move, the company said.
The company already provides data on coal, metals and iron ore in the dry bulk space.
“We have seen in recent years the commodity market convergence breaking down silos,” said Kpler chief executive Francois Cazor.
“The turmoil in energy markets is filtering through to food commodities, ramping up fertilizer prices and agricultural fuels to unprecedented levels.
“Simultaneously, supply chain dislocation coupled with a surge in protectionist measures have added another layer of uncertainty to global food security,” he added. Founded in 2014 by engineers Cazor and Jean Maynier, Kpler says its data technologies can bring real-time transparency to the commodity global supply chains.
In April this year, private equity firms agreed to invest more than $200m in Kpler for a ‘minority’ stake in what was its first external fundraising initiative.
The investment was led by Five Arrows and Insight Partners in what was described as a “strategic growth investment”.
Kpler has also been on the acquisition trail snapping up US-based competitor ClipperData in September 2021 and then data and analytics business JBC Energy in March 2022.
The company also recently moved into the European power markets with the acquisition of France-based data and analytics company COR-e.
Headquartered in Brussels, Kpler employs more than 250 people across offices in Singapore, Houston, New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Cape Town and Tokyo.
