Palmer deal gives logistics firm H.Essers U.S. market entry

Palmer, founded in 1965, operates 14 facilities and about 3.8 million square feet of warehousing capacity, primarily along the Gulf Coast.

H.Essers is entering the U.S. market by bringing chemical warehousing firm Palmer Logistics into its operations, establishing its first footprint in the country and outlining plans for expansion.

The Belgian, family-owned logistics company said the move is intended to support customers operating across North America and Europe. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Houston-based Palmer, founded in 1965, operates 14 facilities and about 3.8 million square feet of warehousing capacity, primarily along the Gulf Coast. Its 350 employees and full management team will remain in place, with President Brett Mears continuing to oversee day-to-day operations.

“We chose H.Essers because they share our values and respect what Palmer has built over the past 60 years,” Mears said. “H.Essers is a family-owned company with 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 transatlantic platform.”

H.Essers said it plans to build on Palmer’s existing operations as it expands in the United States.

“Within five years, we aim to grow our U.S. revenue from $70 million to $300 million,” said Gert Bervoets, CEO of H.Essers. “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.”

The Gulf Coast will serve as the starting point for that expansion, reflecting the concentration of chemical manufacturing in Texas and Louisiana. H.Essers said it plans to expand further in the U.S. over time, including along the East and West coasts.

Company executives said many of their European customers already operate in the United States, while H.Essers serves U.S.-based customers in Europe. The combination is intended to allow the company to support those customers across both regions.

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H.Essers is a Belgian, family-owned logistics company. (Palmer Logistics via LinkedIn)

“H.Essers has been in business for nearly a century,” Bervoets said. “We don’t make decisions based on today’s headlines but based on where our customers will be in 2035. A significant part of the chemical sector is shifting its center of gravity to the United States.”

Palmer will be integrated into H.Essers over time, with branding changes introduced in phases. The company said locations, customer relationships and service levels will remain in place during the transition.

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