Kpler Buys Unite Maritime Analytics Expertise

Brussels-based firm Kpler, which provides commodities data, analytics and market insight, has announced it is buying two companies providing global ship-tracking data and maritime analytics: MarineTraffic and FleetMon.

Kpler describes its mission as the facilitation of 'sustainable and efficient trade'. It does this by pulling in data from various unstructured sources covering markets such as commodities and power, which it says are currently 'characterised by opaque and incomplete information'. The company has recently acquired ClipperData (2021), JBC Energy and COR-e (2022), and following the two latest buys will employ more than 500 people across the world. Last year private equity firms Five Arrows and Insight Partners invested over $200m for a minority stake.

MarineTraffic, which is based in Athens and had already announced it was buying FleetMon, has helped to innovate in the field of ship tracking information and analytics. The firm has partnerships with ports, oil companies and world bodies such as the International Maritime Organisation, and The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) aimed at greater efficiency and smaller environmental impact. FleetMon, which like MarineTraffic was founded in 2007, provides AIS data to market-leading corporates including industrials at the end of the supply chain, and helps shipping companies, captains and maritime enthusiasts to track and analyse their businesses.

Kpler CEO François Cazor comments: 'Since its creation, Kpler has been focused on tracking cargoes, not vessels. We believe the time has come to marry commodity and maritime intelligence into one single platform. This will lead to improvements in the data and services we provide and drive further innovation in the maritime sector, by incorporating the excellent work of both MarineTraffic and FleetMon'. MarineTraffic Chief Exec Demitris Memos comments: 'The increasingly connected maritime world needs more digital tools and better analytics and we'll continue innovating in that direction'; while Lars Brandstäter, CEO of FleetMon says combining the experience of teams from all three firms will 'push the journey of digitalization for maritime transport and supply chains'.

The firms are online at www.kpler.com , www.marinetraffic.com and www.fleetmon.com .