International logistics company announces $61M Norfolk expansion

Katoen Natie Norfolk Inc. expansion will create 35 jobs

Published April 13, 2021 by Kate Andrews

Katoen Natie Norfolk Inc., a plastics and polymers warehousing and distribution company, plans to expand its operation in Norfolk, investing $61 million and creating 35 jobs, the governor’s office announced Tuesday.

A subsidiary of Belgian logistics service provider Katoen Natie, the Norfolk company was established in 2011 at the former Ford Motor Co. assembly plant on Springfield Avenue, where it will add a 243,000-square-foot warehouse and rail facility, Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. The state competed with Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina for the project.

“Katoen Natie Norfolk is a key contributor to Virginia’s position as a world-class transportation and logistics hub, and we are pleased to see the company increase its capabilities to meet increased demand in Hampton Roads,” Northam said in a statement. “The supply chain industry in our commonwealth continues to gain momentum, in large part due to the Port of Virginia’s unparalleled infrastructure. With a significant investment that spans multiple sectors of our economy, this expansion will help fuel our ongoing recovery efforts as well as the company’s continued growth.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with the city of Norfolk, the Hampton Roads Alliance and the Port of Virginia to secure the project, and the business is eligible for state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone program administered by the state Department of Housing and Community Development. VEDP’s Virginia Jobs Investment Program also will assist Katoen with worker training at no cost to the company, Northam said.

Katoen Natie employs 15,000 people worldwide and operates in 36 countries. Its focuses are on supply chain engineering, process engineering, port operations, petrochemicals and other sectors, and the Norfolk facility specializes in assisting producers of plastic resin pellets to prepare for bulk international shipment through the port.