OQEMA

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.

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

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

• Chemical distribution
• Specialty chemicals
• Raw materials supply
• Sustainable chemicals
• Industrial ingredients

Headquarters

HQ city

Mönchengladbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026BASF 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 SrlcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025OQEMA 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 KeunencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025OQEMA 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.
• ElementiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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.
• EvonikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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+SchmidtcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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.
• OXEAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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.
• LANXESScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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.
• CambriumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOQEMA 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 ScientificminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOQEMA 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oqema/about/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about OQEMA