Belgian logistics giant H.Essers enters U.S. market via Palmer acquisition

Belgian family-owned logistics firm H.Essers has made its U.S. market debut by acquiring Houston-based chemical warehousing specialist Palmer Logistics. The deal, whose financial terms remain undisclosed, brings Palmer’s 14 Gulf Coast facilities totaling 3.8 million square feet of warehousing capacity under H.Essers’ umbrella. Palmer, founded in 1965, employs 350 staff and will retain its full management team, including President Brett Mears, who will continue to oversee daily operations. H.Essers emphasized shared values and Palmer’s 60-year track record as key reasons for the acquisition. The Belgian group plans to leverage Palmer’s existing infrastructure to expand its U.S. footprint, targeting revenue growth from $70 million to $300 million within five years. Expansion will focus initially on the Gulf Coast—home to major chemical manufacturing hubs in Texas and Louisiana—before extending to the East and West coasts. H.Essers CEO Gert Bervoets framed the move as a strategic response to shifting global chemical sector dynamics, noting that many European customers already operate in the U.S. while H.Essers serves U.S.-based clients in Europe. Palmer’s facilities, customer relationships, and service standards will remain unchanged during the phased integration, with branding updates rolled out gradually. The acquisition underscores H.Essers’ long-term commitment to the U.S. chemical logistics market, aiming to provide seamless transatlantic support for multinational clients.