A History of Leadership in Chemical Logistics and Distribution |
The Gadot Group embodies more than five decades of specialization and leadership in chemicals handling. Gadot was established in 1959 by the Johananoff family as a chemical importer to the Israeli market, operating under the name Gadot Chemical Tankers and Terminals Ltd. (GCTT). Beginning operations little more than a decade after Israel itself was founded, Gadot met a critical need for Israel’s budding industries and figured prominently in the development of the young country.
From a family company to a global chemicals value chain powerhouse
.jpg) Within five years, in 1964, Gadot set up Gadot Yam Chemical Shipping Ltd, which continues today as the primary shipping arm of the Gadot Group. Over the next four decades, Gadot continued to expand as a private company. It established, acquired and took strategic holdings in multiple companies specializing in various aspects of the chemical value chain, together providing global solutions for sea and land transportation, storage, and distribution of hazardous/non-hazardous liquid bulk chemicals. Among the companies that Gadot established through the 1960s to the 1990s: bulk chemical supplier GCT in the Netherlands; Israel-based Shelach Chemical Haulage Service Co. Ltd; Gadot Chemical Terminals (1985) Ltd, which handles chemical distribution; Israeli shipping pioneer Conmart (Ship Agents) Ltd.; and Tanco International, a leading owner and operator of ISO containers. In 2003, Gadot became a public company, trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). It continued to grow and expand operations, most significantly through acquisitions: In 2006, of Bax Chemicals BV, a petrochemical distribution company located in the Netherlands; and, in 2007 of VLS-Group, a leading provider of integrated logistics and value-added services for the chemical industry and related sectors. In 2007, Gadot was acquired by Ampal Corporation, (NASDAQ: AMPL) and it delisted from the TASE. This marked another juncture for the growth of the Gadat Group. It then went on to acquire, in 2010, ADPO Ghent, a state of the art chemical storage terminal in Ghent, Belgium and Merhav Agro, a leading supplier of fertilizers, pesticides and other crop protection and biotechnology solutions. In 2010, Gadot also expanded its interests into the fast-growing solar market with the establishment of Gadot Solar Solutions. Throughout its long history, Gadot has accumulated unmatched chemicals market knowledge, expertise and worldwide relationships. It continues to leverage all these advantages to maintain the Gadot Group’s present position as a world-leader in the transportation, storage and distribution of hazardous and non-hazardous liquid bulk chemicals, oils and other materials. |
