Belgian family-owned business H.Essers has bought chemical warehouse and logistics services company Palmer, establishing its first operational base in the United States.
H.Essers acquired Palmer Logistics with the stated ambition of growing its US revenue from approximately $70 million today to $300 million within five years. Palmer’s activities (including specialised chemical warehousing, value-added services and continuous process optimisation for chemical manufacturers) closely mirror what H.Essers does for customers in Europe today.
“H.Essers has been in business for nearly a century,” reveals CEO Gert Bervoets in a press release. “We don’t make decisions based on today’s headlines, but based on where our customers will be in 2035.”
He explains that a significant part of the chemical sector is shifting its sights to the US. “We already serve many American customers in Europe. With Palmer, we ensure we’re there for them in the US as well, with the specialisation, scale, and operational expertise they expect from us.”
“Within five years, we aim to grow our US revenue from $70 million to $300 million,” says Gert. “That is an ambitious but realistic target, grounded in the demand we already see from our European and American chemical customers. The United States is becoming increasingly central to the chemical sector, and we intend to play a leading role there.”
Palmer’s footprint in Texas and Louisiana – the centre of the US chemical manufacturing cluster – positions H.Essers perfectly where chemical customers, both American and European, need specialised logistics partners. From this base, H.Essers plans to systematically expand its presence on the continent over the coming years, first by strengthening Palmer’s existing operations, then through expansion toward the East and West coasts.
“In today's uncertain environment, being close to the customer is more important than ever. Supply chains are evolving on both sides of the Atlantic, and to support our customers, we need to be where they are. This partnership gives us the scale, the expertise and the people to do exactly that,” adds Palmer CEO Brett Mears.
Growth will be driven by both organic expansion with existing customers and further strategic steps in the US market.
Already on the same road
According to the press release, cultural fit is always important for H.Essers, but rarely has it been as evident as with the acquisition of Palmer: “Both companies are family-rooted, with comparable histories of controlled growth and a shared conviction that durable customer relationships matter more than short-term opportunities.”
Palmer’s 350 employees, 14 facilities, and full management team remain in place and will be integrated under the H.Essers brand in phases. Brett will continue to lead Palmer’s day-to-day operations, while H.Essers will set a new strategic direction for the business, drawing on the Palmer team’s expertise.
“We chose H.Essers because they share our values and respect what Palmer has built over the past 60 years,” Brett shares. “[They have] a long track record, deep expertise in chemical logistics, and a long-term mindset. For our customers and our people, this is the right choice. Same team, same locations, same service, backed by a stronger trans-Atlantic platform.”
Over time, Palmer customers will also gain access to H.Essers’ broader European network and specialised chemical logistics expertise.
Read also: H.Essers takes over French sector colleague, TFMO
