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South Africa's Grindrod Ltd. has announced the acquisition of Dutch bunker supplier Associated Bunkeroil Contractors B.V. (ABC Bunkeroils).

Rotterdam-based ABC Bunkeroils is a physical supplier in the ARA region, carrying out deliveries in the ports of Rotterdam, Europport, Antwerp and Amsterdam and in the secondary ports of IJmuiden, Velzen, Den Helder, Dordrecht, Flushing, Terneuzen, Ghent and Zeebrugge.

The company currently operates the following six vessels:

Zeelandia
Built: 1978
Capacity: 1200mt

Prima Zee
Built: 1974
Capacity: 3000mt

Zwarte Zee 1984
Built: 1984
Capacity: 3600mt

Noordzee
Built: 2005
Capacity: 4200mt

Bering Zee
Built: 1994
Capacity: 1500mt

Oostzee
Built: 1999
Capacity: 3385mt

Commenting on the deal, Laurence Stuart-Hill, director of Grindrod, said "The acquisition of ABC in Europe expands the recently established bunker barge business in South Africa. The expansion of our bunker barge business into Europe supports our strategy of expansion into international and niche market sectors."

Grindrod's subsidiary Cockett Marine Oil is expected to take on ABC's trading activities, whilst Grindrod’s shipping division will manage ABC’s barge operations.

‘The acquisition... provides a base from which Cockett Marine can further enhance its position in the Rotterdam market,’ added Stuart-Hill.

Grindrod first acquired a 50% share in Cocket Marine Oil in July 2005. Established more than twenty years ago, with offices in United Kingdom, Singapore, South Africa, United States, Monaco, Russia, Brazil and Panama, Cockett Marine Oil is one of the world's leading traders and suppliers of bunkers and marine lubricants to shipowners, operators, managers, charterers and private owners around the globe.

The company currently supplies in the region of 5 million tonnes of marine fuel and lubricants per annum and has a turnover of approximately $1 billion.