About Howe Robinson

Howe Robinson and Company was established in London in 1883.  It has since grown into one of the largest privately-owned dry-cargo and containership broking houses in the world, with about 100 brokers based in the London head office and our branch offices overseas.

Since a management buyout in 1988, the group has enhanced its position in the shipbroking market by actively exploiting new opportunities as well as through the acquisition of other broking companies.  In 2006 Howe Robinson merged with Angus Graham and Partners LLP and in 2007 purchased Killick Martin Chartering Ltd. Business activities of the group range through all aspects of Dry-Cargo and Containership Chartering and Sale and Purchase markets, including valuations and research.

In Howe Robinson Shipbrokers, specialist desks work particular areas of the dry cargo market with departments spread across the company globally.  The company became involved in the container market as it started to develop, and has established itself as a leading broker in this field.  Erlebach Shipbrokers was incorporated into Howe Robinson in 1992 and provides shipbroking services to a number of major sugar houses.

Howe Robinson Sale and Purchase and New Building departments handle the group's activities in second-hand, new buildings and demolition of containerships and bulk carriers.  Vessel and fleet evaluations are handled through Howe Robinson Marine Evaluations Ltd.

When, in 1996, Howe Robinson acquired Lambert Brothers, it included their office in Japan situated then, as now, in the offices of Mitsui OSK lines.  Now known as Howe Robinson Tokyo, this office provides broking services to Mitsui and other major Japanese shipping companies.

Howe Robinson Hong Kong opened in 1992 to establish a presence on the expanding Asian market and develop further Howe Robinson's established connections with China which date back to the 1950s.  The office is involved in both the dry cargo and container markets, and is staffed by brokers specializing in each.

We opened an office in Shanghai in 2002.  Initially it concentrated on the dry cargo market, expanding and developing our service to ship owners and charterers in China, but now includes brokers from container and new building departments, thus providing a broader service for those local companies involved in shipping and others wishing to do business in China.

During 2005 several more offices were opened, starting with Bremen and a second German office has been established in Hamburg, initially specialising in new buildings and sale and purchase, but now including a number of dry cargo chartering brokers.

In South Africa we have a small group working the handy/handymax dry cargo market, and in Piraeus we concentrate on dry snp projects. Our newest office is in Singapore where the emphasis is on developing container chartering business.

In 2007 we opened a small Singapore office which initially concentrates on the container market.

Access to the tanker market is offered via RA Chartering, a recently established broking company located in the London office.

Howe Robinson is a member of the Baltic Exchange in London and a Panel Member reporting daily for the Baltic Exchange Dry Index.