How has the tank storage market evolved over the past 20 years? We saw a shift from tank terminal companies trying to offer a wide range of logistics services 20 years ago, to mainly focusing on their core business of storing goods today. European tank terminals have developed a global footprint, while American storage companies have stayed local. Asian companies have learned a lot and have been looking for opportunities abroad during the last few years. The tank storage industry operated in a very conservative way trying to keep all data confidential.  Today the industry is becoming transparent because of technology and AI.  Tank terminals are slowly accepting this new situation.  Technology is being developed very fast allowing optimisation of tank terminal operations (Example by Tankterminals.com: Vessel Clearence Tool). Tank storage brokering is a rather new service and is more common in the petroleum industry compared to the chemical sector. Large tank storage companies have often re-positioned themselves to take up new opportunities  (Example: selling chemical assets to invest in the energy transition). The energy transition is creating a lot of new opportunities.  Cyber-crime is increasing. There is a list of more than 800 fake websites related to the tank storage industry, especially targeting the petroleum industry. What has been your most memorable moment / year of StocExpo over the years

• Patrick Kulsen (CEO Insights Global): Chairing the conference in Rotterdam on Day 2 in 2023.
• Rudi Stalmans (Insights Global partner): Chairing the conference in Asia in 2019 on day 1  (Tank Storage Asia), and representing the TankTerminals.com/PJK booth on day 2.
• Doing a presentation at the StocExpo Terminal Operations & Safety Conference in 2023 about building resilient and sustainable liquid bulk supply chains.
• Joining the ETT Tank Terminal tour in the port of Rotterdam in 2024 connecting with the industry and talking to the terminal staff.
• Interacting with visitors at the TankTerminals.com/Insights Global booth in 2023, often using real life experiences to make an interesting discussion about the product and/or service.
• Lars van Wageningen (Research Manager – Insights Global): being nominated for the 40under40 award in 2023

What have you gained from attending StocExpo? Have you met any last connections? We received information on new trends and products, have been able to network with old and new connections, and have been able to look for new business opportunities and clients What would you love to see at StocExpo in the future? It would be good if the event could attract more tank terminal operators, more product owners, and more service providers such as surveyors, tanker owners, shipbrokers, and tank container companies, for example. Additionally, to focus a little more on how AI can help the industry and show real examples.