Intertek Tank Terminal Testing: Inspection & Assurance 2026

• Intertek tank terminal testing covers cargo quality and quantity checks, custody transfer inspection, and API 653 asset integrity work for the bulk liquid storage sector
• Intertek operates more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in over 100 countries, employing over 45,000 people
• The company generated £3.43 billion in revenue in 2025 as a listed FTSE 100 business
• Intertek agreed to a £9.3 billion take-private acquisition by Swedish private equity firm EQT in June 2026, with shareholder approval secured
• Its Caleb Brett division handles petroleum and petrochemical cargo inspection, a core service for terminal custody transfer
• Asset integrity work follows API 653, STI SP001, and API 579 standards, supported by 3D laser scanning for tank shell and floor inspection

Intertek tank terminal testing services span cargo quality verification, custody transfer inspection, and asset integrity assessment for operators handling crude oil, refined products, LNG, LPG, and petrochemicals. The company runs this work through its Caleb Brett brand for petroleum cargo and a separate asset integrity division for storage tank inspection, giving terminal operators a single provider for both commercial and structural compliance needs. In 2026, the business itself became the subject of one of the largest take-private deals in UK corporate history.

Company overview

Intertek Group plc is a British testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company headquartered in London, tracing its roots to Caleb Brett’s marine cargo surveying business and a Montreal testing laboratory founded in 1885. The group listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2002 and became a FTSE 100 constituent, trading as ITRK.

As of 2026, Intertek employs more than 45,000 people across over 100 countries, operating a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices. The group reported revenue of £3.43 billion for 2025, with operating income of £619.6 million and net income of £363.2 million. Read more on Intertek’s liquid storage terminal services page.

What intertek tank terminal testing covers

Intertek tank terminal testing splits into three operational categories for the bulk liquid storage industry. Cargo quality and quantity testing covers laboratory analysis of crude oil, refined petroleum products, biofuels, petrochemicals, LPG, and LNG, alongside fuel stability monitoring and microbial contamination checks.

Custody transfer and inspection work includes shore tank surveying, sampling, wall-wash inspections, and flow metering calibration for pipelines, barges, railcars, and tankers. This service line, operated under the Caleb Brett brand, is the one most directly tied to commercial risk at terminal gates, where quantity disputes between buyer and seller can carry significant financial exposure.

The third category, asset integrity and tank inspection (AST), applies non-destructive testing and engineering evaluation to above-ground storage tanks under API 653 and STI SP001. Intertek uses 3D laser scanning to detect floor deformation, wall tilting, and corrosion, and applies fitness-for-service evaluations under API 579 where a tank’s coating, nozzles, or gaskets show signs of degradation.

Operators sourcing intertek tank terminal testing services directly typically route requests through the local Caleb Brett branch office rather than a central booking system, so lead times vary by region and commodity type.

Intertek tank terminal testing and the EQT takeover in 2026

Intertek agreed to be acquired by Swedish private equity firm EQT in a deal announced on 18 June 2026, valuing the company at approximately £9.3 billion in equity and around £10.9 billion including debt. Shareholders will receive £61.077 per share in total, made up of a £60 cash payment plus a previously declared dividend, and EQT’s acquisition vehicle Isotope Bidco is backed by co-investors ADIA and Mubadala.

The deal followed four bids from EQT since April 2026, with the board rejecting three earlier offers at £51.50, £54, and £58 per share before accepting the improved terms. Intertek shareholders approved the scheme by around 98.7% of votes cast, and completion is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026 or the first quarter of 2027, pending court sanction and regulatory clearance. Once complete, Intertek will delist from the London Stock Exchange and operate as a private company under EQT ownership.

For terminal operators, the ownership change carries limited near-term operational risk since testing and inspection contracts typically sit at the local branch level, but it is worth monitoring for any shift in service pricing or regional lab investment once EQT takes control. Further detail on deal terms is available via Financier Worldwide’s coverage of the transaction.

Intertek in the global TIC market

Intertek is one of three major global players in third-party testing, inspection, and certification for the storage terminal sector, alongside SGS. Terminal operators frequently split contracts across providers to maintain independent verification on high-value custody transfers.

Its closest structural peer is Bureau Veritas, which offers a similarly broad mix of cargo inspection and asset integrity services. All three providers apply the same underlying compliance framework.

Intertek’s asset integrity work follows the same API 653 tank inspection standard used across the industry, giving operators a consistent baseline regardless of which TIC provider they select for a given site or region.

Company snapshot