Orion
Orion S.A. is a Luxembourg-based global specialty chemicals company and leading carbon black supplier operating 15 plants in ~80 countries, serving tire, coatings, battery, and plastics manufacturers with conventional, circular (tire pyrolysis oil-based), and acetylene black products for electrification applications.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1862
- HeadquartersNiederanven, Luxembourg
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orion does
Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is a Luxembourg-domiciled global specialty chemicals company and one of the world's largest suppliers of carbon black, with corporate lineage dating to 1862 and German origins. The company operates 15 production plants across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, four technical centers, and four innovation centers, serving more than 1,000 customers in approximately 80 countries with roughly 1,600 employees. Its portfolio spans conventional carbon black for tire reinforcement and industrial rubber goods, specialty grades for coatings, polymers, and printing inks, and a differentiated sustainable line built around ECORAX Circular (made from 100% tire pyrolysis oil, ISCC PLUS-certified) and ECORAX Nature (bio-circular feedstock) products, as well as PRINTEX kappa 100 acetylene black for lithium-ion battery anodes and cathodes.
The core technology is the production of carbon black using multiple feedstocks (conventional oil, tire pyrolysis oil, and bio-circular inputs) via the industry's most diverse set of production processes. Orion's circular carbon black lines feature dedicated TPO infrastructure with separate oil tanks enabling precise blending ratios, and the company operates the only EU facility producing acetylene-based conductive additives for batteries at Berre L'Etang, France. Products are largely drop-in replacements for established ASTM grades (N326, N330), removing reformulation friction for customers pursuing sustainability mandates.
The business model is B2B direct enterprise sales to large manufacturers in tires, coatings, batteries, and plastics, supported by long-term contracts, relationship-driven account management, and participation in industry events such as The Battery Show and American Coatings Show. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated, with recent shifts toward variable surcharges to offset feedstock volatility. Revenue is split across a Rubber segment (currently under pressure from elevated Western tire imports and weak freight demand) and a Specialty segment (growing, with 7% Q1 2026 EBITDA growth). FY 2025 net sales totaled $1.8 billion, with $248 million in adjusted EBITDA and a reported $70 million net loss including an $81 million non-cash goodwill impairment.
Orion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orion
- Legal name
- Orion S.A.
- Website
- https://orioncarbons.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1862
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Orion S.A. is a Luxembourg-based global specialty chemicals company and leading carbon black supplier operating 15 plants in ~80 countries, serving tire, coatings, battery, and plastics manufacturers with conventional, circular (tire pyrolysis oil-based), and acetylene black products for electrification applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Orion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals (Carbon Black)
- NAICS
- Carbon and Graphite Product Manufacturing (335991)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Black & Bulk Pigments (IMAEAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite) (IMAEAFAO), Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM)
Keywords
Where Orion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Niederanven
- HQ country
- Luxembourg
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices25 records
Markets served
Orion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Carbon Black Sales - Rubber Segment: Sales of standard and specialty carbon black for rubber applications including tires and mechanical rubber goods. The Rubber segment faced headwinds in 2025 from elevated Western tire imports and weak freight demand.
- Carbon Black Sales - Specialty Segment: Sales of differentiated carbon black for specialty applications including coatings, ink, batteries, and plastics. The specialty segment showed stronger performance with 7% EBITDA growth in Q1 2026 despite overall revenue decline.
- Conductive Additives for Batteries: Sales of high-value conductive additives (PRINTEX kappa 100) for lithium-ion batteries, battery energy storage systems, and high-voltage cable applications. This is a growing market segment driven by electrification and renewable energy transition.
- Circular Carbon Black Products: Premium-priced sustainable carbon black products (ECORAX Circular and ECORAX Nature) manufactured from tire pyrolysis oil and bio-circular feedstocks, serving customers' circular economy strategies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard specialty carbon black pricing with variable surcharge |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Circular carbon black premium products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Orion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orion S.A. manufactures and sells carbon black, a specialty chemical produced as powder or pellets used to tint, colorize, reinforce, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. The company produces standard, specialty, and sustainable (circular and bio-circular) grades of carbon black from 15 plants worldwide, serving tire manufacturers, coatings, inks, batteries, plastics, and mechanical rubber goods industries. The company offers the most diverse variety of carbon black production processes in the industry, including acetylene black for batteries and tire pyrolysis oil-based circular grades.
Product overview
Orion is a specialty chemicals company offering a diverse portfolio of carbon black products for industrial applications. The product line includes ECORAX Circular grades (200, 210, 215) manufactured from tire pyrolysis oil as sustainable alternatives to conventional carbon black; ECORAX Nature bio-circular grades; and PRINTEX kappa 100 acetylene black for battery and energy storage applications. The company produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide using various processes, serving tire manufacturers, coatings, ink, battery, plastics, and mechanical rubber goods industries. The portfolio ranges from conventional ASTM-grade carbon blacks to differentiated sustainable and specialty products for electrification applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ECORAX: Brand name for carbon black products including ECORAX Circular grades (200, 210, 215) made from tire pyrolysis oil
- PRINTEX
- ECORAX Nature
Products and services
- Carbon Black Solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets, made to customers' exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability and add UV protection.
- ECORAX Circular 200 A hard black circular carbon black grade made from tire pyrolysis oil (TPO), designed as a full drop-in replacement for ASTM grade N326. ISCC PLUS-certified, suitable for tire manufacturing.
- ECORAX Circular 210 A circular carbon black grade manufactured from tire pyrolysis oil, serving as a drop-in replacement for ASTM grade N330. Can be used for tires and mechanical rubber goods (MRG).
- ECORAX Circular 215 A circular carbon black grade produced from tire pyrolysis oil for use in tires and mechanical rubber goods applications.
- ECORAX Nature 200 Bio-circular carbon black grade that can reduce product carbon footprint by up to 100% compared with conventional fossil fuel-derived grades, demonstrating environmental benefits of circular and bio-circular solutions.
- PRINTEX kappa 100 Ultra-pure acetylene black conductive carbon additive for lithium-ion batteries designed for use in both anode and cathode applications. Also qualified for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and high-voltage cable compounds. Orion is the sole producer of acetylene-based conductive additives in the EU.
Quantifiable outcome
- ECORAX Nature 200 can reduce product carbon footprint by up to 100% compared with conventional fossil fuel-derived grades
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Orion
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Orion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Orion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ConteccorePartnership to drive circular economy with tire pyrolysis oil (TPO). Contec and Orion achieved key milestones in 2025 including the development and commercialization of ISCC PLUS-certified circular carbon black grades. Orion serves as off-taker of circular feedstock at multiple European sites.
- ContinentalminorContinental sources sustainable materials from Orion including recycled carbon black and silica derived from rice husk ash for tire production. Target of over 40% renewable/recycled materials by 2030.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Orion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Birla Carbon: Birla Carbon, part of Aditya Birla Group, is the world's largest carbon black producer with a comparable portfolio across rubber, specialty, and increasingly circular grades. Directly competes with Orion in tire reinforcement, specialty carbon black, and emerging sustainable products.
- Cabot Corporation: Cabot is one of the largest global carbon black producers with rubber, specialty, and battery materials businesses. Closely comparable to Orion in customer base (tire makers, battery producers) and product breadth, including conductive carbons for lithium-ion batteries.
- Tokai Carbon: Tokai Carbon is a major Japanese carbon black and graphite products manufacturer serving tire, rubber, and specialty applications. Directly comparable on carbon black portfolio breadth and global manufacturing footprint, with similar specialty grade focus.
- Phillips Carbon Black (PCBL): PCBL is a leading Indian carbon black producer with global tire, rubber, and specialty exposure, including investments in battery materials. Comparable to Orion in product mix and emerging-market manufacturing footprint.
- Continental Carbon: Continental Carbon is a US-headquartered carbon black producer serving tire and industrial rubber goods customers. Direct competitor in rubber-grade carbon black for tire reinforcement and mechanical rubber goods applications.
- Omsk Carbon Group: Omsk Carbon is a major Russian carbon black producer serving tire and rubber goods customers globally. Comparable in scale and product portfolio, though regionally concentrated, and competes with Orion for share in EMEA and APAC.
- Black Cat Carbon Black: Black Cat Carbon Black is one of China's largest carbon black producers serving tire, rubber, and specialty markets. Directly comparable in rubber-grade carbon black manufacturing, with growing global exports that compete with Orion's specialty grades.
Broad incumbents
- SGL Carbon: SGL Carbon is a global specialist in graphite and carbon-based products for automotive, industrial, and electronics applications. Overlaps with Orion on specialty carbons used in batteries and industrial applications, though SGL focuses more on graphite than carbon black.
- Imerys: Imerys is a global specialty minerals producer with carbon-based solutions for batteries, polymers, and industrial applications. Comparable to Orion's specialty/battery carbon materials business, though Imerys has a much broader minerals portfolio.
Emerging players
- Asbury Carbons: Asbury Carbons produces synthetic and natural graphite and other carbon products for industrial, battery, and friction applications. Smaller than Orion but competes in specialty carbons for batteries, conductive additives, and emerging energy storage markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Orion social profiles
Digital presenceOrion compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Orion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Orion subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Orion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Orion
What does Orion do?
Orion S.A. manufactures and sells carbon black, a specialty chemical produced as powder or pellets used to tint, colorize, reinforce, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. The company produces standard, specialty, and sustainable (circular and bio-circular) grades of carbon black from 15 plants worldwide, serving tire manufacturers, coatings, inks, batteries, plastics, and mechanical rubber goods industries. The company offers the most diverse variety of carbon black production processes in the industry, including acetylene black for batteries and tire pyrolysis oil-based circular grades.
Is Orion a public or private company?
Orion is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Orion founded?
Orion was founded in 1862. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Orion based?
Orion is headquartered in Niederanven, Luxembourg, in the Europe region.
How does Orion make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Carbon Black Sales - Rubber Segment is the primary driver. The others are carbon Black Sales - Specialty Segment, conductive Additives for Batteries and circular Carbon Black Products.
Who are Orion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Birla Carbon, Cabot Corporation, Tokai Carbon, Phillips Carbon Black (PCBL), Continental Carbon, Omsk Carbon Group and Black Cat Carbon Black. Broad incumbents are SGL Carbon and Imerys. Asbury Carbons is listed as an emerging player.
Does Orion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orion.
What industry is Orion in?
Orion's product category is Specialty Chemicals (Carbon Black). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAAAF, Carbon Black & Bulk Pigments, with a secondary code of IMAEAFAO, Functional Carbon Fillers (Carbon Black, Graphite). Its NAICS code is 335991 and its SIC code is 2890.