The New York-quoted commodities giant says the three individual partnerships will be based in Rolle, Switzerland, where they will handle global fertilizer purchasing and distribution, ocean freight operations and tropical oils refining in Europe.

When the ventures were first announced the companies told TradeWinds they will each contribute two bulkers to the collaboration, initially in an effort to improve the utilisation and management of their respective shipping fleets.

While neither have divulged the names of the ships market expectations are that Wilmar will contribute two of the eight 82,000-dwt bulkers it has on order in China while ADM will likely add two of its 95,000-dwt bulkers currently under construction at Oshima Shipbuilding in Japan.

Wilmar, the commodities arm of the Robert Kuok empire, is quoted and headquartered in the Lion City where it oversees a stable of 34 bulkers, chemical tankers and products carriers, according to data from Clarksons.

As TradeWinds has reported, the group has been rapidly expanding its fleet in recent years. Many of the ships are used to carry its own cargoes, comprising mostly various types of vegetable oils and biodiesel.

Although it is best known for its vast palm-oil plantations in Southeast Asia, Wilmar trades its vessels worldwide as it has extensive agricultural operations in the Americas, Africa and Europe. The company teamed up with ADM in the 1990s to build a network of soybean processing operations in China.