UK-based shipbroking house Clarksons is expanding its presence along South America’s Pacific coast with the acquisition of the broking business of Serpac International.

The deal gives the London-listed firm a foothold in Peru, a market it sees as increasingly important as trade flows between South America and Asia continue to grow.

Based in Lima, Serpac brings more than 50 years of local shipping experience. The company’s six-strong team, focused mainly on dry bulk, will join Clarksons and continue to be led by managing director Andrew Hardy.

“Joining Clarksons is a tremendous opportunity for our clients and our team,” Hardy said. “With access to deeper insight, broader services and global resources, we can continue to nurture the long standing relationships we hold with clients while exploring new connections across a broader geography.”

Clarksons has been steadily building its global footprint, and the move into Peru is aimed at strengthening coverage along the west coast of South America, particularly in Peru and Chile where commodity exports are driving shipping demand.

“The acquisition of Serpac’s broking division marks another important step in our strategy,” said Andi Case, chief executive of Clarksons. “Andrew’s leadership and the strong relationships he and his team have established along the west coast of South America underline our long-term commitment to the region.”

The broker points to growing volumes and improving infrastructure as key drivers. Peru and Chile are positioning themselves as gateways for trade with Asia, particularly in bulk commodities, supported by port and logistics investments that are expected to lift export capacity.

“Peru and Chile are emerging as significant trade hubs connecting South America to Asia, supported by infrastructure developments that will enable the region to scale,” Case noted. “With an expanded on-the-ground presence, backed by our own tools for trade, we believe this furthers our combined ability to support clients as trade routes evolve and market dynamics continue to shift.”

The Peru move follows a broader push by Clarksons to strengthen its position across the Americas. In March, the broker acquired Link Group in an $80m deal, adding a North American crude and derivatives brokerage and data business to its platform.