LyondellBasell

What LyondellBasell does

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB) is one of the world's largest plastics, chemicals, and refining companies, incorporated in the Netherlands with operational headquarters in Rotterdam and Houston. The company produces polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polyolefins; chemical building blocks and intermediates; and is the largest global producer of fuel ethers that improve air quality. It also offers a portfolio of advanced polymer solutions serving packaging, healthcare, transportation, construction, agriculture, and consumer goods end-markets, and is developing a circular-economy platform under the Circulen and CirculenRenew brands, anchored by the proprietary MoReTec chemical recycling process scaling toward a 50,000 metric-ton commercial plant in Wesseling, Germany in 2027.

The company operates as a B2B industrial chemicals producer, selling primarily through direct enterprise sales relationships and regional distributors to industrial manufacturers across North America, Europe, and Asia. Revenue is generated on a transaction/tonnage basis, with pricing tied to global market conditions for polymers and petrochemicals. Recent strategic emphasis is on shifting the mix toward differentiated, sustainability-certified polymers (bio-circular, mechanically and chemically recycled grades) and specialty healthcare polymers (Purell), while rationalizing commodity exposure through the 2026 sale of select European olefins and polyolefins assets to AEQUITA and the conversion of the Houston refinery into a petrochemical facility.

LYB is publicly traded, has 10,000+ employees (recently reduced by approximately 3,000), and reported roughly $7.2 billion in Q1 2026 revenue with $568 million of EBITDA. Full-year 2025 revenue declined approximately 6.3% versus the prior year amid a prolonged chemical-sector downturn, prompting a 50% dividend cut and aggressive cost actions alongside continued investment in circular and specialty growth platforms.

Name

LyondellBasell

Legal name

LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

Website

https://lyondellbasell.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

LyondellBasell is a global B2B chemicals and polymers producer selling polyethylene, polypropylene, advanced polymer solutions, chemicals, and fuel ethers to industrial manufacturers across packaging, healthcare, transportation, construction, and consumer goods end-markets, with a growing circular-polymer platform built around CirculenRenew and the proprietary MoReTec chemical recycling technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petrochemicals & Polymers

NAICS

Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEANAA), Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA), Commodity Plastic Compounds (PE/PP/PS/PVC) (IMANABAA), Polyolefin Films (PE/PP: Cast, Blown, BOPP) (IMALABAA)

Keywords

• Polyolefin manufacturing
• Petrochemical products
• Polyethylene polypropylene production
• Chemical recycling technology
• Circular polymer materials

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Polymers: Sale of polyethylene, polypropylene and other polymer products to industrial customers across packaging, automotive, construction and consumer goods sectors. Core revenue stream from olefins and polyolefins segments.
2. Chemicals: Production and sale of chemical building blocks and intermediates that serve as foundation for numerous products advancing modern living.
3. Fuels: LyondellBasell is the largest global producer of fuel ethers that help improve air quality. The company operates refining assets though is transitioning the Houston refinery to petrochemical production.
4. Advanced Polymer Solutions: Rich, diverse portfolio of materials and deep market knowledge serving customers across multiple industries including packaging, healthcare and transportation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LyondellBasell manufactures and sells polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene and other polyolefins), chemical building blocks, fuel ethers, and advanced polymer solutions to industrial customers in packaging, healthcare, transportation, automotive, construction, agriculture, and consumer goods. The company also markets circular and recycled polymer sub-brands (Circulen, CirculenRenew) and medical-grade polymers (Purell), supported by proprietary polyolefin process technologies and the MoReTec chemical recycling platform.

Product overview

LyondellBasell operates as a global chemical company organized around multiple product categories and business segments. Its portfolio is structured as a unified platform-plus-segments model comprising: Advanced Polymer Solutions (diverse materials portfolio), Chemicals (building blocks for modern living), Fuels (largest global producer of fuel ethers), Polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, and related polyolefins), and Technologies (polyolefin technologies and process IP developed since 1954). The company also maintains a distinct circular economy sub-brand — Circulen — encompassing recycled and renewable-based polymers (CirculenRenew, mechanically recycled, and chemically recycled variants) — as well as specialized medical-grade polymers under the Purell brand. Acquired brands include Mepol Group (recycled compounds, Italy/Poland). The company also leverages its proprietary MoReTec chemical recycling technology platform under development in Wesseling, Germany. The overall offering integrates commodity-scale production with sustainability-driven differentiated solutions for packaging, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, consumer goods, and infrastructure end markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circulen: Brand of recycled and renewable-based polymers offering complementary, innovative and sustainable solutions for customers' sustainability goals
• CirculenRenew
• Purell
• Velogy
• MoReTec

Products and services

• Advanced Polymer Solutions Diverse portfolio of advanced polymer materials sold to industrial customers across packaging, automotive, construction, healthcare, and consumer goods applications.
• Polymers Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other polyolefin resins sold to industrial manufacturers producing packaging, automotive, construction, and consumer goods products.
• Chemicals Chemical building blocks and intermediates produced and sold as foundational inputs to numerous downstream industrial products.
• Fuels Fuel ethers and related refined fuel products produced for the global fuels market; LyondellBasell is the largest global producer of fuel ethers that improve air quality.
• Circulen recycled and renewable-based polymers Sub-brand of recycled and renewable-based polymers, including mechanically and chemically recycled grades, sold to industrial customers for sustainable packaging and product applications.
• CirculenRenew bio-circular polymers Bio-circular polymers sourced from bio-circular feedstock and certified under ISCC+ standards, offering up to 44% lower product carbon footprint versus fossil-based alternatives.
• Purell medical-grade polymers Medical-grade polymer portfolio sold to pharmaceutical and healthcare manufacturers for medical devices, pharmaceutical packaging, and healthcare equipment applications; expanded to North America in March 2026.
• MoReTec chemical recycling technology Proprietary chemical recycling platform that converts post-consumer plastics back into raw materials, being scaled at a commercial plant in Wesseling, Germany with 50,000 metric tons annual capacity expected to start up in 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 44% lower product carbon footprint with CirculenRenew bio-circular polymers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• AEQUITAmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026LyondellBasell completed the sale of select European olefins and polyolefins assets to AEQUITA as part of strategic portfolio refinement. Assets located in Berre (France), Münchsmünster (Germany), Carrington (UK), and Tarragona (Spain) now operate under the name Velogy. The transaction supports LyondellBasell's strategy to concentrate on assets with durable competitive advantages while enhancing financial flexibility.
• Armando Alvarez GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Collaboration at LYB's Wesseling site in Germany implementing bio-circular solutions in industrial packaging. Using Form-Fill-Seal bags with up to 96% attributed bio-circular content certified under ISCC+ standards. LYB supplies CirculenRenew polymers sourced from bio-circular feedstock, which AAG processes into packaging, offering up to 44% lower product carbon footprint compared to fossil-based alternatives.
• HenkelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Partnership to create renewable-based transparent plastic cage for Henkel's WC Frisch/Bref solid toilet rim blocks. Made through injection molding, the cage contains 30% mechanically recycled plastics and 70% bio-circular raw materials from LYB CirculenRenew portfolio using a mass balance approach. Collaboration highlights both companies' commitment to sustainable packaging innovation.
• INEOSminorOthers · 1 December 2023INEOS acquired LyondellBasell's ethylene oxide and derivatives business in December 2023 as part of portfolio optimization activities.
• Mepol GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 July 2023LyondellBasell acquired Mepol Group, a recycled plastics manufacturer in Italy and Poland, to become part of its Advanced Polymer Solutions segment. The acquisition aims to accelerate growth in circular economy solutions and meet the company's goal of producing at least 2 million metric tons of polymers from recycled sources by 2030. Mepol Group was a manufacturer of recycled compounds serving customers across Europe.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Dow Inc. Dow is one of the world's largest producers of polyethylene, polyolefins, and petrochemicals, directly competing with LyondellBasell across packaging, infrastructure, and consumer applications with a comparable global manufacturing footprint.
• ExxonMobil Chemical: ExxonMobil's Chemical segment is a leading global producer of polyethylene, polypropylene, and petrochemical building blocks, competing head-to-head with LyondellBasell in commodity polyolefins with integrated feedstock advantage.
• INEOS Group: INEOS is one of the largest private chemicals producers globally and a direct competitor in olefins and polyolefins; notably INEOS acquired LyondellBasell's ethylene oxide and derivatives business in 2023, deepening direct overlap.
• SABIC: SABIC is a leading global petrochemicals producer headquartered in Saudi Arabia, competing directly with LyondellBasell in polyethylene, polypropylene, and circular polymer solutions with strong Middle East feedstock economics.
• Borealis (OMV): Borealis, now part of OMV, is a leading European polyolefins producer with proprietary Borstar technology, competing directly with LyondellBasell in polyethylene/polypropylene and circular economy solutions like Borcycle.
• Braskem: Braskem is the largest petrochemical producer in the Americas and a leading global producer of polyolefins and biopolymers, directly competing with LyondellBasell in PE/PP and renewable polymer solutions.
• Formosa Plastics Corporation: Formosa Plastics is a major Asian producer of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other petrochemicals that competes globally with LyondellBasell in commodity polyolefins serving packaging and industrial markets.
• Westlake Corporation: Westlake is a leading North American producer of polyolefins, PVC, and petrochemicals with integrated feedstock assets, directly competing with LyondellBasell's US polymers and chemicals operations.
• Chevron Phillips Chemical: Chevron Phillips Chemical is a major US-based producer of polyethylene, polyolefins, and petrochemicals that competes directly with LyondellBasell in North American commodity polymer markets with comparable integrated feedstock positions.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: BASF is the world's largest chemical company, producing petrochemicals, polyolefins, and specialty plastics that overlap directly with LyondellBasell's polymers, chemicals, and advanced polymer solutions portfolios across the same end markets.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A6 records

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LyondellBasell