Palmer specialises in warehousing and value-added services for the chemical industry and operates 14 locations, primarily across the US Gulf Coast region (Texas and Louisiana).
The company generates annual revenue of approximately $70 million (€61 million) and employs 350 people.
The acquisition sees H.Essers taking its first step into the United States, establishing a presence in the heart of the country’s largest chemical manufacturing cluster.
It is a logical next step in the growth journey that H.Essers has been building from its headquarters in Genk for nearly a century. Many of the company’s European chemical customers already operate in the USA which is becoming an increasingly important centre of gravity for the global chemical industry. At the same time, H.Essers serves a significant number of American chemical companies across Europe.
“H.Essers has been around for nearly one hundred years,” said CEO Gert Bervoets. “We don’t make decisions based on today’s headlines, but on where our customers will be in 2035. A large part of the chemical industry is shifting its centre of gravity to the United States. We already serve many American customers in Europe. By acquiring Palmer, we are ensuring that we can also support them when they need us there.”
