What SEKAB does

SEKAB (legal entity SEKAB Biofuels & Chemicals AB) is a privately held Swedish chemical company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Örnsköldsvik, with approximately 70 employees and four decades of operating history rooted in over a century of chemical production at the Domsj industrial site. The company operates a chemical plant that runs 24/7 converting bio-based ethanol into four core fossil-free products — Bio Acetaldehyde, Bio Ethyl Acetate, Bio Ethanol, and Bio Acetic Acid — supplemented by secondary offerings including low-blending fuel ethanol, masterbatch, Thermol thermal products, bio-based washer fluid, and a consulting service for customers replacing fossil chemicals.

SEKAB's technology platform is built on proprietary fermentation know-how (CoryFee) and an enzymatic hydrolysis platform (CelluAPP) for sugar extraction from biomass, supported by an active patent portfolio. Production is certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISCC Plus, and the company holds an EcoVadis Gold rating at the 97th percentile, providing verified sustainability credentials that align with EU procurement and Scope 3 decarbonization requirements.

The business model is B2B industrial chemical sales delivered through an enterprise field-sales motion targeting manufacturers in pharmaceuticals, paints and coatings, adhesives (including a strategic collaboration with Henkel Adhesive Technologies announced in February 2026), and broader chemical manufacturing. Revenue is generated through long-term bio-based supply contracts with quote-based pricing, designed to provide customers with supply security, price stability independent of fossil market volatility, and a lower-carbon input. The company markets via its website, newsletters, LinkedIn, Instagram, press releases, and industry events including COP30, and is led by CEO Emil Källström with Regina Sipos appointed Chair of the Board in April 2026.

Name

SEKAB

Legal name

SEKAB Biofuels & Chemicals AB

Website

https://sekab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SEKAB is a privately held Swedish bio-based chemical company that operates a 24/7 plant in Örnsköldsvik producing fossil-free acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and acetic acid for European industrial manufacturers under long-term supply contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-based industrial chemicals

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194), Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing (325193)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Platform & Commodity Chemicals (e.g., bio-ethylene, bio-propylene, bio-BTX, bio-methanol) (EUAAAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB), Bio-based Resins, Adhesives, Coatings & Sealants (EUAAAIAG)

Keywords

• Bio-based chemicals
• Industrial fermentation
• Cellulose ethanol
• Renewable chemical intermediates
• Green chemistry manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Örnsköldsvik

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bio-based Chemical Products: Sekab generates revenue through the production and sale of fossil-free, bio-based chemicals (Bio Acetaldehyde, Bio Ethyl acetate, Bio Ethanol, Bio Acetic acid) to industrial customers. The company emphasizes that bio-based chemicals are currently cheaper than fossil-based alternatives for customers with long-term supply contracts, providing both cost advantages and reduced carbon footprint.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEKAB manufactures and sells fossil-free, bio-based chemical intermediates — bio acetaldehyde, bio ethyl acetate, bio ethanol, and bio acetic acid — produced from renewable biomass via proprietary cellulose fermentation. The company also supplies downstream products including low-blend ethanol, masterbatch, Thermol antifreeze, and washer fluid, and offers consulting services for bio-refinery operations to industrial manufacturers.

Product overview

SEKAB is a Swedish chemical company producing fossil-free, bio-based chemicals. The core product portfolio consists of four main chemicals derived from bio-based ethanol: Bio Acetaldehyde, Bio Ethyl acetate, Bio Ethanol, and Bio Acetic acid. These chemicals serve as building blocks for industrial value chains across Europe, enabling customers to reduce their carbon footprint by replacing fossil-based alternatives. Additional products include low blending fuel grade ethanol, masterbatch formulations, Thermol thermal products, and washer fluid. The company also offers consulting services to help customers transition from fossil chemicals to sustainable bio-based alternatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bio Acetaldehyde: Bio-based acetaldehyde product
• Bio Ethyl Acetate
• Bio Ethanol
• Bio Acetic Acid

Products and services

• Bio Acetaldehyde
• Bio Ethyl Acetate
• Bio Ethanol
• Bio Acetic Acid
• Low Blending Ethanol
• Masterbatch
• Thermol Antifreeze
• Washer Fluid
• Bio-Refinery Consulting Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon-negative products with verified emission reductions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Henkel Adhesive TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Strategic collaboration to accelerate transition from fossil-based to bio-based chemicals in industrial adhesive production. The partnership focuses on replacing conventional fossil-based ethyl acetate with a fossil-free, bio-based alternative. This initiative supports Henkel's ambition to combine sustainability with high-performance adhesive solutions, including applications within its Packaging division. By supplying fossil-free, bio-based chemicals, Sekab contributes to value chain collaborations that enable reduced climate impact downstream.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Braskem: Brazil-based petrochemical major that operates the world's largest bio-based polyethylene (I'm green) plant using sugarcane ethanol. Comparable as a fossil-replacement chemicals producer using bio-ethanol feedstock at industrial scale, though at far larger scale and serving different geographies.
• Perstorp: Swedish-headquartered specialty chemicals company producing oxo intermediates, polyols, and bio-based alternatives (e.g., Pro-Environment polyols from renewable feedstock). Comparable as a Swedish specialty chemicals producer with growing bio-based product portfolio serving industrial customers in coatings, adhesives and plastics.
• Stora Enso (Bio-based chemicals): Stora Enso produces bio-based carbon materials and lignin-based products (Lineo) at industrial scale, with roots in Nordic forestry and over a century of operations. Comparable in feedstock (forest biomass), Nordic production base, and B2B industrial chemical customer base, but operates across a much broader pulp/paper/forestry portfolio.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with a growing portfolio of bio-based and circular products (e.g., biomass-balanced versions of acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, acetic acid under the "Verdil" range). Comparable in product overlap with SEKAB's four core chemicals, though at vastly greater scale and global footprint.

Direct peers

• UPM Biochemicals: UPM's biochemicals division produces bio-based mono-ethylene glycol, mono-propylene glycol and bio-monopropylene glycol from forest residues at a commercial biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. Highly comparable to SEKAB: European-based, biomass-to-platform-chemicals, serving industrial B2B customers as drop-in fossil replacements.
• Borregaard: Norwegian biorefinery operating one of the world's most advanced lignocellulosic biorefineries in Sarpsborg, producing bio-based chemicals (lignin biopolymers, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, cellulose derivatives) from spruce. Closely comparable to SEKAB in feedstock philosophy (forest biomass), Nordic base, and B2B specialty chemicals model.
• Clariant Sunliquid: Clariant's Sunliquid technology licenses cellulosic ethanol production from agricultural residues; the related demonstration plant in Straubing produces cellulosic ethanol from wheat straw. Comparable to SEKAB's CelluAPP enzymatic hydrolysis platform and its interest in cellulosic sugar conversion.

Emerging players

• Renmatix: US-based technology company developing supercritical water hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to produce cellulosic sugars for downstream bio-based chemicals. Comparable to SEKAB's CelluAPP enzymatic hydrolysis platform in the cellulosic-biomass-to-sugars value chain.
• LanzaTech: US/NZ carbon-capture company using gas fermentation to produce bio-ethanol and downstream chemicals (including with partners like ArcelorMittal and Shell) from industrial off-gases. Comparable as a fermentation-based bio-ethanol producer targeting industrial chemical markets as a fossil-replacement feedstock.
• Avantium: Dutch biochemical company commercialising plant-based FDCA and PEF (polyethylene furanoate) as fossil-replacement plastics, with a flagship plant under development in Delfzijl. Comparable as a European-focused, biomass-to-platform-chemicals innovator targeting industrial packaging and materials customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SEKAB.AB
• LinkedInse.linkedin.com/company/sekab
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifeatsekab

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SEKAB