OQEMA
OQEMA is a privately held, family-owned European chemical distributor headquartered in Germany, distributing 15,000+ raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions across 26 countries and 14+ industries, with growing sustainable and bio-based offerings and value-added technical services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersMönchengladbach, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What OQEMA does
OQEMA is a European chemical distribution company headquartered in Korschenbroich, Germany, operating as an interface between chemical manufacturers and processing-industry buyers. The company distributes more than 15,000 chemical products — including raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions — across 26 countries and serves 14+ end-markets such as CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, construction), personal care, home care and I&I, food and nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and water treatment.
The core operating model is decentralized: local sales teams, storage facilities, and technical laboratories provide procurement, formulation support, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions. The portfolio is increasingly differentiated by a sustainable product layer — bio-based (e.g., Propylene Glycol BB, Acetic Acid BB, Ethyl Acetate BB), Circular Distilled (e.g., Acetic Acid CD, Acetone CD, THF CD), and innovative alternatives to SVHCs (e.g., Propylene Carbonate replacing DMF) — with documented CO2 reductions versus conventional equivalents. Digital channels include the JOQORA B2B e-commerce platform, currently scoped to the German market.
Commercial revenue is generated through distribution margins on the 15,000+ SKU portfolio, complemented by fee-based value-added services (formulation, blending, regulatory support) priced per quote and bespoke contract. Distribution is multi-channel: direct enterprise sales across 26 countries, channel partnerships with principals such as BASF, Evonik, Elementis, LANXESS, Koster Keunen, OXEA, and Berg+Schmidt, and the JOQORA storefront for smaller accounts. Recent strategic activity has included the October 2025 acquisition of Chimen Srl (Italy), a new BASF distribution partnership covering Central and Eastern Europe effective January 2026, and the appointment of Lars Wallstein as CEO effective July 1, 2026.
OQEMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OQEMA
- Legal name
- OQEMA AG
- Website
- https://oqema.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- OQEMA is a privately held, family-owned European chemical distributor headquartered in Germany, distributing 15,000+ raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions across 26 countries and 14+ industries, with growing sustainable and bio-based offerings and value-added technical services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OQEMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chemical Distribution
- NAICS
- Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (424690)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemicals, Ingredients & Raw Materials Marketplaces (CRAFAHAK)
Keywords
Where OQEMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mönchengladbach
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
OQEMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Chemical Distribution: OQEMA operates as a chemical distributor, serving as an interface between chemical manufacturers and the processing industry. The company distributes more than 15,000 products including raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions. Revenue is generated through product distribution margins and value-added services.
- Technical Services: Value-added services including procurement support, formulation assistance, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions that complement product distribution.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
OQEMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OQEMA is a European chemical distribution company that distributes more than 15,000 chemical products and ingredients as an interface between chemical manufacturers and the processing industry. It offers raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions across CASE, Personal Care, Food & Nutrition, Home Care, Pharmaceutical, and Water Treatment sectors, complemented by value-added services including formulation support, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions. The company also runs JOQORA, a B2B e-commerce platform for selected chemicals in the German market.
Product overview
OQEMA is a European chemical distribution company offering a unified portfolio of over 15,000 chemical products and ingredients across 14 industries. The core offering centers on chemical distribution, sales, and marketing with value-added services including procurement, formulation support, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions. The product portfolio spans multiple segments including CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Construction), Food & Nutrition, Home & Personal Care, and Industrial & Institutional Cleaning. JOQORA serves as the company's B2B e-commerce platform for streamlined chemical sales in Germany, while the broader sustainable portfolio includes bio-based, circular distilled, and innovative alternative products. The company operates as an interface between chemical manufacturers and the processing industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- JOQORA: A streamlined B2B e-commerce platform offering selected chemicals in flexible pack sizes, backed by transparent pricing and personal expertise
Products and services
- JOQORA A streamlined B2B e-commerce platform offering curated chemical products in flexible pack sizes with transparent pricing and personal expertise, serving customers in the German market.
- Sustainable Product Portfolio Bio-based products (Propylene Glycol BB, Acetic Acid BB, Ethyl Acetate BB, Ethanol BB, Butylacetate BMB, Butylglycol BMB, Butanol BMB), circular distilled products (Acetic Acid CD, Acetone CD, Acetonitrile CD, THF CD, Toluene CD, Monopropylene Glycol CD, Dimethylformamid CD), and innovative chemistry replacements for hazardous substances. These products offer reduced CO2 emissions and serve as drop-in replacements for conventional chemicals.
- Chemical Distribution Services Distribution of more than 15,000 raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions across 14 industries through a decentralized network across 26 countries, with storage facilities, technical expertise, and supply chain support.
- Value-Added Technical Services Procurement support, formulation assistance, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions provided to customers in the processing industry to complement chemical product distribution.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 65% lower CO2 emissions with Ethyl Acetate BB compared to fossil-based alternative
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use OQEMA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OQEMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
OQEMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BASFcoreBASF and OQEMA expanded their long-standing partnership with a new distribution deal covering BASF's construction and coatings dispersions and paint additives across Central and Eastern Europe. Effective January 1, 2026, OQEMA leverages its local sales network, storage facilities, and technical expertise to serve customers in 14 CEE countries including Romania, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The partnership aims to drive regional growth through enhanced delivery speed, flexibility, and tailored technical support.
- Chimen SrlcoreOQEMA acquired Chimen Srl, a family-run company based in San Donà di Piave, Italy, strengthening its network in northern Italy. Chimen brings decades of experience in distributing solvents, plasticisers, and thinners, along with impressive in-house logistics and tank storage. The acquisition aligns with OQEMA's culture and growth ambitions.
- Koster KeunencoreOQEMA Group announced a new strategic partnership with Koster Keunen, a global leader in the wax industry, effective from January 1, 2025. The partnership enables OQEMA to distribute Koster Keunen's wax products for personal care formulations, enhancing structure, stability, texture, and sensory appeal in cosmetic products.
- ElementiscoreOQEMA distributes Elementis personal care ingredients including BENTONE rheology modifiers, emulsifiers, botanical emollients, and bio-functional active ingredients. Products include BENTONE HYDROLUXE 360, BENTONE PLUS GLOW, BENTONE GEL series, and BENTONE HYDROCLAY series.
- EvonikcoreOQEMA distributes Evonik silica products across Personal Care, Food, and Pharmaceutical sectors. Products include AEROSIL fumed silica, SIPERNAT precipitated silica, SPHERILEX, and AEROPERL for applications ranging from rheology control to anti-caking and bioavailability enhancement.
- Berg+SchmidtcoreOQEMA distributes Berg+Schmidt cosmetic ingredients including BergaCare surfactants, emulsifiers, UV filters, BergaSoft mild surfactants, BergaSom lecithin fractions, BergaMuls emulsifiers, and BergaCare FG silicone alternatives. Products support eco-friendly and natural cosmetic formulations.
- OXEAcoreOQEMA distributes OXEA products including NPG-Di-heptanoate (CQ) emollient and OxBalance bio-mass balanced ingredients for personal care applications. OXEA is a global leader in intermediates and oxo derivatives for personal care, pharmaceuticals, and flavorings.
- LANXESScoreOQEMA distributes LANXESS Consumer Solutions products supporting formulators across technical and consumer-facing industries with materials that solve real processing challenges and enable cleaner, more reliable product development.
- CambriumminorOQEMA partners with Cambrium to bring NovaColl micro-molecular vegan collagen to personal care formulations. This AI-driven biology collaboration delivers next-generation ingredients that combine high-performance with sustainable credentials.
- Uute ScientificminorOQEMA distributes Re-Connecting Nature microbial extract from Uute Scientific, a biodiversity-rich ingredient crafted through upcycling natural materials for cosmetic innovations supporting skin barrier and regeneration.
- Citroleo (CitroBio)minorOQEMA distributes Citroleo natural ingredients including AlphaImprove 4D Hair for capillary repair and Collagscalp Andiroba for scalp anti-aging, bringing Brazilian biodiversity to hair care formulations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
OQEMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IMCD: Specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor with strong focus on Europe and adjacent markets, distributing personal care, food, CASE, and pharma ingredients. Closest analog to OQEMA in portfolio breadth, application support, and specialty orientation.
- Azelis: Global specialty distributor focused on life sciences (personal care, pharma, food) and industrial chemicals across EMEA, Americas, and Asia Pacific. Directly comparable to OQEMA in personal care and CASE ingredient distribution.
- Helm AG: German family-owned chemical distribution and marketing company with crop protection, feed, food, and industrial divisions. Comparable to OQEMA in ownership model (family-controlled) and industrial/specialty chemicals focus.
- Biesterfeld: Hamburg-headquartered family-owned chemical distributor of similar size and ownership profile to OQEMA, focused on specialty polymers, industrial chemicals, and CASE. Most structural parallel in the European chemical distribution peer set.
- Barentz: European-led specialty ingredients distributor serving food, personal care, pharma, and animal nutrition. Particularly comparable to OQEMA on personal-care and food ingredient segments and technical support model.
- Ter Group / TER Chemicals: Mid-sized European chemical distributor with personal care, CASE, food, and industrial segments. Comparable scale and European footprint to OQEMA's mid-tier distribution operations.
- Stockmeier Chemie: Bielefeld-based German family-owned chemical distributor focused on industrial chemicals, specialty distribution, and toll manufacturing. Comparable to OQEMA on industrial/specialty distribution across Central Europe.
Broad incumbents
- Univar Solutions: Large-scale chemical and ingredient distributor serving industrial, natural resources, and life science end markets, with material European presence. Competitor to OQEMA across multiple European segments.
- Brenntag: World's largest chemical distributor with full-line product portfolio and global footprint across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Direct competitor to OQEMA across industrial and specialty chemical distribution, though much larger and more diversified.
Regional players
- Manuchar: Belgian chemical and consumer-goods distributor with focus on emerging markets (Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe). Comparable to OQEMA in chemical distribution core but with stronger emerging-market and logistics emphasis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OQEMA social profiles
Digital presenceOQEMA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
OQEMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OQEMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
OQEMA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
OQEMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OQEMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OQEMA
What does OQEMA do?
OQEMA is a European chemical distribution company that distributes more than 15,000 chemical products and ingredients as an interface between chemical manufacturers and the processing industry. It offers raw materials, specialty chemicals, and tailor-made solutions across CASE, Personal Care, Food & Nutrition, Home Care, Pharmaceutical, and Water Treatment sectors, complemented by value-added services including formulation support, bespoke blending, regulatory expertise, and flexible delivery solutions. The company also runs JOQORA, a B2B e-commerce platform for selected chemicals in the German market.
Is OQEMA a public or private company?
OQEMA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was OQEMA founded?
OQEMA was founded in 1925. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is OQEMA based?
OQEMA is headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does OQEMA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Chemical Distribution is the primary driver. The others are technical Services.
Who are OQEMA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IMCD, Azelis, Helm AG, Biesterfeld, Barentz, Ter Group / TER Chemicals and Stockmeier Chemie. Broad incumbents are Univar Solutions and Brenntag. Manuchar is listed as a regional player.
Does OQEMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for OQEMA.
What industry is OQEMA in?
OQEMA's product category is Chemical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAHAK, Chemicals, Ingredients & Raw Materials Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 42469 and its SIC code is 5160.