Nouryon B.V.

What Nouryon B.V. does

Nouryon B.V. is a privately held global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, formed in 2018 through the spin-off of AkzoNobel's specialty chemicals business and tracing its heritage back nearly 400 years. The company manufactures and sells a diversified portfolio of specialty chemicals including bleaching and oxidizing chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorate), specialty polymers (cellulose ethers, biopolymers, hybrid polymers), surfactants and chelating agents (Dissolvine chelates, fatty amines, anionic/cationic/non-ionic surfactants), polymer production and processing chemicals (metal alkyls, organic peroxides, polymer additives), and specialty intermediates (Expancel microspheres, Kromasil chromatography media, Levasil colloidal silica, Thioplast polysulfides, ethylene amines, HBED iron chelate). These products serve nine business units spanning agriculture and food, home and personal care, paints and coatings, polymer specialties, oil/gas/mining, pulp/paper/packaging, building and infrastructure, transportation, and other specialized markets including pharmaceuticals, electronics, batteries, and water treatment, with manufacturing and innovation centers in the Netherlands, United States, China, Brazil, Sweden, and Germany and operations in more than 80 countries.

Nouryon operates a B2B sales-led model with quote-based, multi-year contract pricing, complemented by strategic regional distribution partnerships (IMCD for EMEA textile and leather, Brenntag for Brazil cellulose ethers) and a self-service My Nouryon customer portal. The company invests in formulation-led innovation, supported by approximately 8,200 employees globally and recent capacity expansions in China (metal alkyls, MMAO from 2027, organic peroxides innovation center in 2026), new innovation centers in Shanghai and Itupeva, Brazil, and digital initiatives including the BeautyCreations AI formulation portal developed with Albert Invent and an investment in AGEYE Technologies for AI-powered crop nutrition. Halal certification of its Boxing and Ningbo China facilities further extends its addressable market for personal care and cleaning applications. The company is owned by institutional investors following its 2018 spin-off and is not publicly traded.

Name

Nouryon B.V.

Legal name

Nouryon Specialty Chemicals B.V.

Website

https://nouryon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Nouryon B.V. is a privately held global specialty chemicals manufacturer, spun off from AkzoNobel in 2018 and headquartered in Amsterdam, producing bleaching chemicals, specialty polymers, surfactants, chelating agents, and polymer production chemicals for industrial customers across agriculture, personal care, paints, polymers, packaging, and pharmaceuticals in more than 80 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Surface Active Agent Manufacturing (325613)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Textile, Leather & Paper Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAM), Commodity Surfactants & Detergent Base Chemicals (IMAEAAAI)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals manufacturing
• Polymer production chemicals
• Industrial surfactants supply
• Agricultural micronutrients
• Personal care ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemicals Sales: Nouryon generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of specialty chemicals across multiple product categories including bleaching chemicals, specialty polymers, surfactants, chelating agents, polymer production chemicals, and specialty intermediates. The company serves diverse end markets including agriculture, personal care, cleaning, paints and coatings, construction, polymers, oil and gas, mining, and pulp and paper.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Nouryon manufactures and globally sells specialty chemicals across multiple product categories including bleaching and oxidizing chemicals (hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorate), specialty polymers (cellulose ethers, biopolymers, hybrid polymers), surfactants and chelating agents, polymer production chemicals (metal alkyls, organic peroxides, polymer additives), and specialty intermediates (Expancel microspheres, Kromasil chromatography media, Levasil colloidal silica, Thioplast polysulfides, micronutrients). The company serves industrial customers in agriculture, home and personal care, paints and coatings, polymer specialties, oil/gas/mining, pulp/paper/packaging, construction, transportation, and other specialty markets.

Product overview

Nouryon B.V. is a global specialty chemicals company operating as a multi-product portfolio across several interconnected segments: (1) Bleaching and Oxidizing Chemicals including hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, and sodium chlorate for pulp and industrial applications; (2) Specialty Polymers encompassing cellulose ethers, biopolymers, hybrid polymers, and synthetic polymers for construction, pharmaceuticals, food, and personal care; (3) Surfactants and Chelating Agents including anionic, cationic, and non-ionic surfactants, fatty amines, and chelating agents (Dissolvine) for cleaning, personal care, agriculture, and industrial uses; (4) Polymer Production and Processing Chemicals featuring metal alkyls, organic peroxides, and polymer additives; and (5) Specialty Chemicals and Intermediates including Expancel® microspheres, Kromasil® chromatography media, Levasil® colloidal silica, Thioplast® polysulfides, and micronutrients. The company also offers AI-powered formulation tools (BeautyCreations™) developed in partnership with Albert Invent. Products serve diverse markets including agriculture, home and personal care, paints and coatings, construction, polymer specialties, oil/gas/mining, pulp/paper/packaging, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and water treatment. Distribution partnerships with IMCD (EMEA textile/leather) and Brenntag (Brazil cellulose ethers) extend market reach regionally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BeautyCreations: AI-powered digital portal for personal care formulation discovery using natural language, developed in partnership with Albert Invent
• Expancel
• Kromasil
• Dissolvine
• Levasil
• Armocare
• Structure M3
• My Nouryon
• Thioplast

Products and services

• Expancel® Microspheres Thermoplastic expandable microspheres used in paperboard production to boost bulk and reduce fiber use, as well as in packaging, construction, and weight reduction/insulation applications.
• Kromasil® Chromatography Media High-performance chromatography media for separation and purification applications in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Levasil® Colloidal Silica Colloidal silica product line used in catalysts, advanced coatings, and various industrial applications requiring precise particle size and stability.
• Thioplast® Polysulfides Polysulfide-based products used in polymer applications, sealants, and aerospace/defense industries.
• Cellulose Ethers Water-soluble cellulose derivatives used as thickeners, binders, and stabilizers in construction, pharmaceuticals, food, and personal care applications.
• Structure M3 Bio-based Co-surfactant Bio-based co-surfactant for sustainable skin and hair care formulations, targeting formulators seeking renewable ingredients.
• Triameen 12D Antimicrobial Antimicrobial active ingredient for the US cleaning market using non-quaternary ammonium technology.
• Dissolvine® Chelates Chelating agents that bind metal ions in cleaning, personal care, and agricultural applications. Includes halal-certified options for Chinese facilities.
• Hydrogen Peroxide Strong oxidizing agent used in pulp bleaching, water treatment, and various chemical manufacturing processes.
• Organic Peroxides Initiators and crosslinking agents for polymer production, including innovation center in China for development and testing.
• Metal Alkyls and Complex Metalorganics Catalyst components for polymer production, with expanded capacity in China to support growing polymer market.
• Ethylene Amines and Ethanolamines Building block chemicals used in the synthesis of surfactants, resins, pharmaceuticals, and crop protection products.
• HBED Iron Chelate World's strongest iron chelate developed by Nouryon, providing unmatched stability, efficiency, and performance in high-pH soils for crop nutrition.
• Surfactants (Anionic, Cationic, Non-ionic) Complete range of surfactant types for cleaning, personal care, agricultural, and industrial applications.
• Biopolymers Bio-based polymer solutions for various industrial applications including personal care and construction.
• Hybrid Polymers Advanced polymer systems combining different polymer chemistries for enhanced performance properties.
• Polymer Additives Additives that enhance polymer processing, stability, and end-use performance characteristics.
• Textile and Leather Solutions Specialty chemicals including surfactants, fatty amine derivatives, and ISCC Plus-certified sustainable options distributed across EMEA through IMCD partnership.
• Halal-Certified Ingredients Halal-certified ingredients for personal care and cleaning applications manufactured in Boxing and Ningbo, China facilities, enabling access to nearly two billion consumers requiring halal-certified products.
• BeautyCreations™ AI Formulation Tool An AI-driven personal care formulation discovery tool that allows formulators to use natural language to describe formulation requirements and access Nouryon's historical formulation data. Developed in partnership with Albert Invent.
• Sustainable Cleaning Technologies Biodegradable and renewable-carbon-based chelating agents, surfactants, and formulations targeting laundry, dish, and surface cleaning markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Halal certification enables access to nearly 2 billion consumers requiring halal-certified products
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, growth, innovation and key supplier.

• BrenntagstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 May 2026Expanded partnership with chemicals distribution company Brenntag in Brazil focused on exclusive marketing of cellulose ethers for paint and printing ink industry. The deepened cooperation extends existing collaboration within Latin America.
• AGEYE TechnologiesgrowthStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Nouryon's investment in AGEYE Technologies as part of AI-powered crop micronutrients market developments, supporting precision agriculture solutions. AGEYE develops AI-powered agricultural technology for precision nutrient management.
• IMCDstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 December 2025Strategic distribution agreement with Netherlands-based IMCD to expand availability of Nouryon's textile and leather solutions across Europe, Middle East, and Africa. The partnership combines Nouryon's specialty chemical portfolio including surfactants, fatty amine derivatives, and ISCC Plus-certified sustainable options with IMCD's distribution network and technical expertise.
• Albert InventinnovationTechnology or Integration · 5 June 2025Partnership with Albert Invent to develop BeautyCreations, an AI-powered digital portal for personal care formulation discovery. The platform allows formulators to use natural language to describe formulation requirements and access Nouryon's historical formulation data.
• PQkey supplierOthersPQ was honored as Nouryon 2025 Supplier of the Year, recognizing the close partnership and day-to-day collaboration between the two organizations across operations, supply chain, technical, and business teams. The award reflects PQ's commitment to customer focus and ensuring supply continuity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solvay: Belgian specialty chemicals company (split from soda ash/commodities) with overlapping portfolios in surfactants, polymers, agricultural chemicals, and specialty intermediates; similar heritage and global manufacturing footprint.
• Eastman Chemical: US specialty chemicals company with overlapping product lines in specialty polymers, additives, fibers, and chemical intermediates; comparable B2B specialty chemicals model serving industrial and consumer end markets.
• Arkema: French specialty chemicals company with comparable product lines in specialty polymers (cellulose ethers via legacy Bostik), surfactants, and polymer additives — direct competitor across multiple Nouryon segments.
• Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemicals leader in personal care, beauty, and consumer care ingredients — direct overlap with Nouryon's personal care portfolio (surfactants, conditioning agents, bioactive ingredients) and shared focus on sustainable, bio-based ingredients.
• Ashland: US-listed specialty chemicals company with strong personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial specialty chemical portfolios — overlapping personal care ingredients, formulation expertise, and B2B specialty model.
• Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company with strong overlap in personal care ingredients, surfactants, and industrial specialties; comparable product portfolio focus and B2B specialty model.
• Solenis: Specialty chemicals company focused on pulp & paper, water treatment, and industrial chemistries — closely comparable to Nouryon's Pulp & Performance Chemicals business (Expancel microspheres, bleaching chemicals) under similar B2B specialty model.
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals manufacturer with strong overlap in surfactants, polymer additives (organic peroxides), personal care ingredients, and coating additives — directly comparable product portfolio, customer base, and B2B specialty chemicals model.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: World's largest chemical company with significant presence in surfactants, polymer chemicals, personal care ingredients, agricultural solutions, and specialty intermediates; broader portfolio but overlapping product lines and end markets.

Others

• IMCD: Dutch specialty chemicals distributor and Nouryon's distribution partner for textile/leather solutions in EMEA; comparable business model adjacency and competitor overlap in specialty ingredients distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nouryon
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNadEfcHRN-hu49oVRXnWmg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Nouryon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nouryon

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nouryon B.V.