Trafigura Forms JV with IFM Investors for Part of Impala Terminals

Commodity trading company Trafigura Group has decided to create a joint venture with IFM Investors for certain assets of Trafigura’s ports and warehousing company Impala Terminals and entered into a long-term partnership with the fund manager.

Illustration. Impala's Porto Sudeste. Image Courtesy: Impala

Specifically, Trafigura entered into an agreement with IFM Global Infrastructure Fund under which the latter company will invest in Impala Terminals’ assets for an undisclosed sum.

As informed, the 50:50 joint venture will own and operate a network of concentrates terminal infrastructure in Mexico, Spain and Peru, which play an important role in the movement of copper, lead and zinc in the global market.

The joint venture will also include fluvial operations in Paraguay and a Swiss-based operation which provide global freight forwarding and multimodal transportation services in the African copperbelt for Trafigura and third-party clients.

In addition, the JV will explore strategically growing the platform over time, including expanding the network with assets owned by Trafigura that are currently not included in the transaction perimeter.

“Impala Terminals has (…) the potential to expand in existing and new markets and through handling increased volumes from Trafigura and third parties. This was a good point to bring in a strong partner, while allowing Trafigura to re-invest the funds raised into new projects that will support our trade flows,” Jeremy Weir, Executive Chairman and CEO of Trafigura, commented.

This agreement is subject to relevant regulatory approvals.

Impala Terminals is a multimodal logistics provider which owns and operates a network of ports, port terminals and warehouses which, combined with its transport assets, provide end-to-end logistics solutions for dry and liquid bulk cargoes, general cargo and containers.