Vinmar International and Clarksons have asked to postpone the chemical trader's fraud case against the ship brokers.

The parties have agreed that "more time is needed to prepare this case for trial on the merits," according to court documents filed in Texas' Harris County district court.

The trial was originally set to begin 16 July 2018.

"This case involves non-party witnesses and documents and the parties are just commencing depositions and document production," the filing states.