Belgium-based chemical products logistic services specialist Katoen Natie (B-2060 Antwerp; www.katoennatie.com) is already planning to expand the plastics terminal it opened in mid-2004 at Cremona / Italy, the furthest inland port on the river Po. Planning permission has been obtained for 60 additional granule silos, each with a capacity of 511 m³ and a warehouse with an area of 14,000 m². This would more than double the capacity of the facility with its 42 silos and 12,000 m² of storage area. The packaging lines in Cremona are designed to fill 1,800 25-kg sacks an hour.

The new facility will take account of the increasing volume of chemicals into Europe, mainly to Italy but also to Germany and the Benelux. According to the Antwerp company´s estimate, plastics production at sites along the river Po accounts for 70% of the plastics processed in Italy annually. Katoen Natie operates from 21 locations in Europe, and is particularly strong in Belgium (7 sites), France (6) and Germany (3). With annual sales of around EUR 600m, including 45% in plastics, the company currently employs around 6,000 people worldwide, half of them in Belgium. Its plastics activities are grouped together in Petrochemicals, one of seven divisions.

Capacity of the plastics terminal opened in 2004 at Cremona / Italy is to be doubled (Photo: Katoen Natie)