Global marketleader

With a history going back almost four centuries, Vopak is the global market leader in independent storage and handling of liquid oil products, chemicals, vegetable oils and liquefied gases. Vopak has terminals in the world’s most strategic ports, with specialised facilities: product tanks, jetties, truck loading stations, pipelines and access to road and rail networks. Products are stored for customers for some time at these terminals, often under very specific conditions, such as temperature control, or they are blended to the desired specification. Vopak’s terminals play a key role in the transit: products are transported from the terminal to end-users by vessel, railcar, tank truck or pipeline.

Different terminal functions

Vopak’s independent tank terminal network is responsible for a number of functions in the product’s journey from producer to end-user. Vopak distinguishes three types of terminal:

Import, export or distribution terminal
As part of the import and export role, bulk liquid is transported by ocean-going vessel. For Vopak’s customers, the terminal can, for example, serve as a starting point for the inland distribution of products by inland vessel, pipeline, tank truck and railcar.

Hub terminal
A hub terminal combines the roles as mentioned above with the role of a meeting point for trade, a location that gives customers access to a market. The Vopak network comprises hubs in Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (the ARA region, Europe), Houston (USA), Fujairah (United Arab Emirates) and Singapore (Asia).

Industrial terminal
A logistics centre integrated in a major petrochemical complex that supports the product flows within the complex and the supply and export of respectively feedstocks and finished products.

High quality standard worldwide

Vopak’s terminals offer customers professional support in optimising reliable and efficient logistics processes. From its terminals, Vopak offers its customers, who include governments and producers of and traders in oil products and chemicals, a high standard quality throughout the world. Vopak develops its services according to the product, market and functional requirements, often working with customers and/or strategic partners. For example, Vopak adds components or blends products: activities that add value for the customer. Vopak entered the market for storage of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for import and distribution to a consumption area, with the first terminal for this being built with Gasunie in Rotterdam (Netherlands). Vopak currently  operates 75 terminals in 30 countries.

Sustainability integral part of business processes and operations

Sustainable entrepreneurship is the basis for long-term relationships with customers, strategic partners, employees, governments, neighbours and shareholders and is therefore an integral part of the company’s processes and operations. In its decisions, Vopak not only considers economic aspects but also longer-term safety, health, environmental and social aspects. Vopak, therefore, consistently applies and enforces strict Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ) standards, rules, codes and procedures. Vopak’s policy is designed to prevent its activities causing damage and nuisance. Vopak wants to offer its employees a highly attractive, international working environment with excellent opportunities for development.

Organisation and division structure

Vopak is organised as five divisions:

• Chemicals Europe, Middle East & Africa
• Oil Europe, Middle East & Africa
• Asia
• North America
• Latin America

There is also a separate project organisation for developing LNG terminals and functional support departments in key areas. The units of the worldwide organisation work closely together and actively exchange know-how and expertise, enabling Vopak to respond rapidly, creatively and precisely to changing customer wishes and market developments. Vopak aims to continually improve and expand its terminal network, particularly in strategically located international ports close to its customers’ production centres and markets.

Vopak workforce at year-end comprises of 3,564 employees in the group companies and more then 1,100 employees in joint ventures for tank storage.