What Ercros does

Ercros is a Spanish basic chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Barcelona, organized into three operating divisions: Chlorine Derivatives (chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, PVC compounds, TCCA for pool water treatment), Intermediate Chemicals (pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sodium formate, formaldehyde, specialty resins), and Pharmaceuticals (active pharmaceutical ingredients including fusidic acid and fosfomycin). The company operates eight manufacturing sites across Spain (Tarragona, Sabiñánigo, Monzón, Tortosa, Almussafes, Aranjuez, Cerdanyola, and Flix) and holds globally significant positions in niche chemical segments, including #2 worldwide in fusidic acid and #3 in pentaerythritol. Ercros maintains comprehensive certifications including FDA approval for pharmaceutical APIs, GMP/GDP, ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001/27001/42001, ISCC Plus, ECVM Charter, and a top-1% EcoVadis sustainability rating (87/100, 98th percentile).

The company's business model is sales-led B2B industrial chemicals distribution: products are sold as intermediates to industrial customers in water treatment, pharmaceutical, construction, coatings, animal nutrition, and electrical equipment sectors. 53% of FY2025 revenue of €603 million comes from exports, with key facilities (Aranjuez 95%, Cerdanyola 90%, Tortosa 70%+) shipping heavily to international markets. Sub-brands Delsa and Azuli target consumer-facing pool water treatment through specialized retail, while Etinox (PVC compounds) and ErcrosBio (bioplastics) serve industrial buyers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. In April 2026, Portuguese industrial group Bondalti completed a hostile takeover bid acquiring 77.23% of capital for approximately €329 million, taking the company private and installing new leadership under CEO João de Mello and President Antón Valero.

Operationally, Ercros is executing its 3D Plan (2021-2029) targeting Diversification of products and applications, Digitisation of processes, and Decarbonisation, with reported outcomes including 38% CO2 emissions reduction over four years, 14% water consumption reduction (2022-2023), and €14.6M in decarbonization grants. The company has commissioned solar photovoltaic installations at Monzón and Flix, and a salt crystallization plant at Sabiñánigo enabling full brine circularity. Ercros reported a €53.6M net loss in 2025, with deterioration continuing into Q1 2026, reflecting the financial pressure that preceded the change of control.

Name

Ercros

Legal name

Ercros S.A.

Website

https://ercros.es

Company type

Public

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ercros is a Barcelona-based Spanish basic chemicals manufacturer operating three divisions (chlorine derivatives, intermediate chemicals, pharmaceuticals) across eight Spanish production sites, selling intermediates to industrial customers in water treatment, pharma, construction, and animal nutrition, with 53% export orientation and global positions in fusidic acid and pentaerythritol.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Basic Chemicals Manufacturing

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (3256)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impurity / Reference Standard Synthesis & Characterization (HLAGAHAG), Acids & Descalers (Muriatic, Phosphoric, Sulfamic) (CRAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Basic chemical manufacturing
• Chlorine derivatives production
• Pharmaceutical active ingredients
• PVC compounding
• Pool water treatment chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products Sales: Sale of basic chemical products including chlorine derivatives, intermediate chemicals, and pharmaceutical ingredients to industrial customers. Products serve construction, automotive, pharmaceutical, water treatment, and other industrial sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ercros manufactures and sells basic industrial chemicals through three divisions: Chlorine Derivatives (chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, TCCA, PVC compounds under Etinox, bioplastics under ErcrosBio, dicalcium phosphate), Intermediate Chemicals (pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sodium formate, formaldehyde, thermoset moulding compounds, specialty resins ErcrosGreen+ and ErcrosTech), and Pharmaceuticals (active pharmaceutical ingredients such as fusidic acid and fosfomycin). Products are sold as intermediates to industrial customers in water treatment, pharmaceutical, construction, coatings, animal nutrition, and electrical equipment sectors, with 53% of sales exported internationally.

Product overview

Ercros is a Catalan basic chemicals company organized into three divisions: Chlorine derivatives (chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen, hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite), Intermediate chemicals (pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, formaldehyde, sodium formate, specialty resins), and Pharmaceuticals (active pharmaceutical ingredients including fusidic acid and fosfomycin). The company also produces PVC compounds under the Etinox brand and bioplastics under the ErcrosBio brand. Consumer-facing products include TCCA pool water treatment chemicals sold under the Delsa and Azuli brands. The company operates manufacturing sites across Spain including Tortosa, Sabiñánigo, Monzón, Aranjuez, Cerdanyola, Almussafes, Flix, and the Tarragona industrial complex.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delsa: Pool water treatment products including TCCA tablets, marketed under the Delsa brand for specialized stores
• Azuli
• Etinox
• ErcrosBio

Products and services

• TCCA (trichloroisocyanuric acid) Chlorine-based disinfectant for pool water treatment, produced at Sabiñánigo factory in multiple presentations (granules, powder, block, tablet, pill). Ercros is the first European producer of TCCA.
• PVC compounds (Etinox) PVC compounding products including Etinox F and Etinox X families produced at Monzón factory, certified with VinylPlus supplier seal for sustainable production.
• ErcrosBio bioplastics Bioplastics brand including products with natural fibers, PVC products with recycled material, and plasticized PVC filaments for 3D printers, produced at Monzón factory.
• Pentaerythritol and Dipentaerythritol Polyhydric alcohols used in alkyd resins, coatings, plasticizers, and adhesives. Tortosa factory is the only producer in Spain and the third-largest globally.
• Sodium formate Sodium formate used in the tanning industry and as antifreeze at airports, produced at Tortosa factory.
• Fusidic acid API Active pharmaceutical ingredient from the antibiotic family, produced at Aranjuez factory under FDA approval and GMP/GDP certification. World's second-largest manufacturer.
• Fosfomycin API Active pharmaceutical ingredient produced at Aranjuez factory, where Ercros is the third-largest manufacturer globally, exported under FDA approval and GMP/GDP certification.
• Dicalcium phosphate Product for compound feed manufacturing providing phosphorus and calcium essential for animal development, produced at Flix factory.
• Thermoset moulding compounds Products used in the manufacture of electrical equipment and accessories for sinks and tableware, produced at Cerdanyola factory with 90% of production exported.
• ErcrosGreen+ and ErcrosTech specialty resins Innovative specialty resins developed by the R&D department of the intermediate chemistry division at Tortosa.
• Recycled Carbaicar moulding compounds Recyclable moulding compounds representing Ercros's contribution to circular economy in the plastics sector.
• Chlorine and caustic soda (ISCC Plus certified) Chlorine, caustic soda (liquid and pearl), hydrogen, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite produced at Vila-seca I and Vila-seca II factories using renewable energy under ISCC Plus certification.
• Delsa and Azuli pool water brands Consumer-facing water treatment brands for pool water disinfection, offering TCCA products in multiple presentations marketed through specialized stores and industrial distributors.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduced by 38% in 4 years
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Circlear (Aragonese Circular Economy Cluster)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Ercros joined Circlear as a founding partner. The cluster promotes circular economy collaboration between companies, public administrations, technology centres and social agents in Aragon. Ercros has factories in Sabiñánigo and Monzón in Aragon.
• UN Global CompactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErcros is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, committing to its principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
• Responsible Care ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErcros has adhered to the Responsible Care program since 1994, a voluntary initiative of the global chemical industry promoting sustainable development. The program is applied in 580 companies across 70+ countries.
• European Council of Vinyl Chloride and PVC Manufacturers (ECVM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErcros obtained ECVM Industry Charter certification for sustainable PVC and vinyl chloride production at Vila-seca II factory.
• VinylPlusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerErcros joined VinylPlus 2030, a voluntary commitment program for PVC value chain transition towards circular economy across EU countries.
• KiwaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDutch certification company that issued VinylPlus supplier seal to Ercros PVC compound families.
• DekraminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal certification body commissioned by ECVM to audit Ercros data on PVC and vinyl chloride production.
• EcoVadisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational sustainability rating platform that has awarded Ercros Platinum/Gold medals with scores of 87/100 and 85/100 points.
• Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit organization that evaluates and rates company environmental performance on climate change.
• Operation Clean Sweep (OCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldwide voluntary commitment of plastics industry pursuing zero pellet losses, certifying Ercros Monzón factory.
• Spanish Association of Plastics Industries (Anaip)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Ercros Monzón factory with 'Spanish and Sustainable Plastics Industry' certification.
• AENORminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpanish certification body that issues ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 50001 and other certifications to Ercros.
• Bureau VeritasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCertification company that verified Ercros CSR reporting under Responsible Care program and awarded Excellence level rating.
• Nuclear Safety Council (CSN)minorOthersSpanish regulatory body that approved Ercros technical project for El Hondón remediation in Cartagena.
• Spanish Agency of Medicines (AEMPS)minorOthersGovernment agency that accredits Ercros pharmaceutical production under GMP and GDP standards.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bondalti: Portuguese industrial group producing chlor-alkali and related chemicals; now Ercros' parent company following the 2026 takeover. Directly comparable in chlor-alkali chemistry, PVC intermediates, and European B2B chemical sales.
• Westlake Corporation: US-based integrated chlor-alkali and PVC producer with strong North American and European footprint; directly comparable to Ercros' chlorine derivatives and PVC compounding operations.
• Olin Corporation: Global chlor-alkali, epoxy and Winchester producer; one of the largest Western chlor-alkali operators with overlapping chlorine, caustic soda and PVC product mix.
• INEOS Inovyn: INEOS's European chlor-alkali and PVC business, the largest in Europe; directly comparable on chlorine, caustic soda, vinyl chloride, and PVC compound offerings to industrial customers.
• Shin-Etsu Chemical: Japanese chemical major and global PVC/chlor-alkali leader; directly comparable in vinyl chloride, PVC, and specialty chlorinated intermediates serving industrial customers.
• Orbia Advance Corporation: Mexican chemical and polymer producer with significant PVC, chlor-alkali and fluorinated specialties; comparable in chlorine-derivative chemistry and PVC compounding.

Broad incumbents

• Solvay: Belgian specialty chemical major with broad portfolio including soda ash, silica, and specialty polymers; comparable in chlor-alkali-adjacent chemistry and European B2B chemical manufacturing.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with diversified petrochemicals, intermediates and performance products; overlaps with Ercros in basic chemicals, intermediates, and downstream industrial customers.
• Dow Inc. Global chemical major with significant chlor-alkali, PVC, and industrial intermediates; directly comparable in chlorine derivatives and broader petrochemical intermediates serving industrial customers.

Emerging players

• Tata Chemicals: Indian basic chemicals producer with soda ash, salt, and specialty chemistries; comparable in inorganic base chemicals (chlor-alkali-adjacent) though serving different geographies and customer mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ercros

Compliance23 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ercros