Oil & chemical cluster

All major chemistry and refinery companies worldwide have their European headquarters in Antwerp. From here, an intricate network of pipelines brings oil to the heart of the mainland. Starting companies can easily plug into this existing network of companies.

All the main West European centres of industry and consumption lie within a radius of 1 000 km.

60% of European purchasing power lies within a radius of 500 km, giving you unrivalled market coverage.

Highly integrated cluster 

Home to both base chemicals and fine chemicals production, the Antwerp oil and chemical cluster can offer great integration possibilities. More than 7 million m3 of third-party liquid storage solutions, 2 top 10 refineries, 4 steam crackers and no fewer than 30 companies operating in the oil and chemical sector, including at least 10 top world players, all located in the port area. They are supported by world players in the contracting and logistics sectors.

  • Largest integrated European oil and chemical cluster
  • Stable supply of feedstock, raw materials and intermediates
  • Mutual benefical synergies through integration of products and energy
  • Outstanding pipeline connectivity, tank storage and product handling
  • Green, brownfield and co-siting sites available
 Availability of all technical services

Multiple tank storage specialists

There is a wide range of logistics companies specialising in tank storage and product handling (storage and transport). 10 specialist firms — all working according to the highest HSE standards and present in the main European ports and industrial areas — offer 16 third-party tank terminals with a total storage capacity of more than 7 million cubic metres.

Unique pool of technical contractors

The entire chain of technical contractors is available in the proximity of the Antwerp cluster. This goes from EPC companies over process optimisation specialists to heavy lifting and periodic or daily maintenance (MRO, asset integrity
management). Mechanical, piping, electrical & instrumentation and safety equipment; risk analysis, environmental control and waste processing; every specialism is present.

SHE and product compliance partners

As for safety, inspection, verification, testing and certification, you will find well known international names and
experienced, well-equipped local companies in the Antwerp oil & chemical cluster. Large surveyors offer extensive laboratory facilities and associated services. 

Extensive pipeline network 
Map: The European pipeline network
Map: The European pipeline network

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges has over 1000 kilometres of intra-port pipeline infrastructure at its disposal, transporting over 100 products permitting the exchange of substances with a very high degree of reliability. All this makes Antwerp the most important node in Europe’s pipeline network.
 

Well connected value chains

The experience in the oil and chemical sector built up in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges guarantees a stable supply of feedstock, raw materials and intermediates, together with smooth transport of finished products to a continental market that stretches from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, from the UK to the Caucasus.
But also overseas markets are within reach of your Antwerp production plants, thanks to the port.

Is there still room for you in the cluster?

Yes, there certainly is. There are possibilities for co-siting on both the right and left bank of the port, with lots of opportunities for synergies (integration of production, energy and/or services). 
Optimised sharing of costs and services features prominently.
Finally there are sites totalling 1000 hectares (greenfield and brownfield) throughout the port available for further development of the oil & chemical sector.

The location of BASF in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges with direct access to road, rail, deep sea and inland waterways as well as an extended pipeline infrastructure and sufficient tank storage facilities, is definitely a key differentiator for our Antwerp site.”

Wouter DE GEEST, Managing Director BASF Antwerpen