Belgian logistics provider, H.Essers, has strengthened its presence in the US through the acquisition of Palmer Logistics, a specialist in chemical logistics with more than 60 years of industry experience.
Palmer Logistics operates 14 locations across the US, providing warehousing, transportation and value-added logistics services, primarily for the chemical sector. The acquisition marks H.Essers’ first major step in expanding its specialised hazardous materials logistics offering beyond Europe.
H.Essers CEO, Gert Bervoets, said the acquisition is a logical milestone in the company’s long-term international growth strategy.
“The centre of gravity for many of our chemical customers is increasingly shifting towards the United States,” said Bervoets. “Many of these customers are already active there, and this acquisition allows us to support them seamlessly across regions while strengthening our established European foundation.”
The company said the move reinforces its strategic focus on specialised chemical logistics, combining H.Essers’ European expertise in hazardous materials logistics with Palmer Logistics’ established US capabilities in chemical warehousing and value-added services.
The partnership creates a transatlantic logistics network designed to support increasingly complex chemical supply chains. H.Essers said its expansion will initially focus on the US Gulf Coast, the country’s largest chemical production hub, with further growth driven by customer demand and market opportunities.
Beyond operational synergies, Bervoets highlighted the strong cultural alignment between the two family-owned businesses.
“Both companies share the same values of entrepreneurship, reliability, respect and long-term thinking,” he said.
“As family-rooted businesses, we make decisions with the next generation in mind rather than the next quarter, creating a strong foundation for successful integration.”
The acquisition will provide customers with expanded access to warehousing capacity, specialised infrastructure and chemical logistics expertise across both Europe and the US, supporting international supply chains.
Palmer Logistics’ existing management team will remain in place to ensure business continuity, while the company’s operations will be progressively integrated under the H.Essers brand.
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