Synthos

What Synthos does

Synthos is a privately held Polish chemical manufacturer headquartered in Oswiecim with a reported 1,001–5,000 employees and operations dating to 1945. The company produces styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) for automotive tires, waterproofing, and industrial rubber applications; sustainable adhesives targeted at industrial manufacturers facing tightening environmental regulations; and petrochemical products including butadiene. Its core technology centres on chemical manufacturing processes for synthetic rubber and adhesives, supplemented by petrochemical extraction and processing through units such as the now-divested S54 butadiene extraction facility at ORLEN's Płock Production Plant.

Synthos makes money as a B2B chemical and petrochemical manufacturer, selling to industrial customers in automotive, construction, and manufacturing under quote-based pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Revenue streams have historically included SBR sales into a global SBR market valued at US$36.78 billion in 2025, sustainable adhesives for regulated industrial applications, and petrochemical operations (including butadiene extraction) that were partially integrated into ORLEN's value chain through long-running commercial agreements and the Butadien Kralupy joint venture. In December 2025, Synthos divested the S54 butadiene extraction unit to ORLEN for approximately PLN 692 million, restructuring related commercial agreements and shortening the Butadien Kralupy JV from 2049 to 2038.

The company is controlled by Polish billionaire Michał Solowow and is diversifying beyond chemicals into nuclear energy through Synthos Green Energy, a joint venture with state-controlled Orlen SA to deploy GE Vernova BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Poland. Solowow has publicly targeted SMR operations by late 2030, though the Polish Ministry of State Assets has noted a two-year stalemate over financing structures and technology lock-in disputes, introducing execution risk to the nuclear pivot.

Name

Synthos

Legal name

Synthos S.A.

Website

https://synthosgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Synthos is a privately held Polish chemical manufacturer producing styrene-butadiene rubber, sustainable adhesives, and petrochemical products for automotive, construction, and industrial customers, while diversifying into nuclear energy via a small modular reactor joint venture with ORLEN.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Chemicals

NAICS

Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (325212), Rubber Product Manufacturing (3262)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Elastomers & Synthetic Rubber Polymer Manufacturing (SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM, Silicone base polymers) (IMANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Synthetic Rubber & Elastomer Feedstocks (SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM) (IMAEADAJ), General-Purpose Rubber Compounds (NR/SBR/BR/EPDM) (IMANAJAA)

Keywords

• Synthetic rubber manufacturing
• Industrial adhesives
• Petrochemical production
• Butadiene extraction
• Expandable polystyrene

Headquarters

HQ city

Oswiecim

HQ country

Poland

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) products: Production and sale of synthetic rubber products including SBR used in automotive tires, waterproofing, and industrial rubber applications. Global SBR market valued at US$ 36.78 billion in 2025.
2. Sustainable adhesives: Development and production of sustainable adhesives for various industrial applications driven by environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
3. Petrochemical products (butadiene extraction): Butadiene extraction unit (S54) at Production Plant in Płock; processing C4 output to deliver raffinate for downstream petrochemical processes. Unit sold to Orlen for approximately PLN 692 million.

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Synthos manufactures and sells styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) used in automotive tires and industrial applications, sustainable industrial adhesives, and petrochemical products including butadiene extraction. The company also participates in small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear energy development through its Synthos Green Energy joint venture with Orlen SA using GE Vernova's BWRX-300 reactor design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR) Synthetic rubber product used in automotive tires (including electric vehicle tires), waterproofing applications, construction materials, and industrial rubber goods. Sold to tire manufacturers and industrial rubber processors globally, with Asia-Pacific dominating demand.
• Sustainable Adhesives Adhesive products formulated for industrial bonding applications, designed to help manufacturers meet environmental compliance requirements and corporate sustainability targets.
• Butadiene Extraction (S54 Unit) Butadiene extraction unit that processed C4 output to deliver raffinate for downstream petrochemical processes. Sold to Orlen SA in December 2025, transferring full ownership and integrating the unit into Orlen's petrochemical value chain.
• Synthos Green Energy (SMR Joint Venture)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Orlen SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025ORLEN acquired full ownership of S54 from Synthos for approximately PLN 692 million, gaining control of a butadiene extraction unit at its Production Plant in Płock. The transaction integrates the unit into ORLEN's petrochemical value chain, processing C4 output to deliver raffinate for downstream processes. Deal also includes restructuring of commercial agreements and shortening the Butadien Kralupy joint venture from 2049 to 2038, while securing two additional years of ethylene and benzene offtake in the Czech market.
• Orlen SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Synthos Green Energy is engaged in a joint venture with state-controlled Orlen SA for developing small modular reactors (SMR) in Poland. Negotiations ongoing regarding financing structures and technology lock-in to GE Vernova's BWRX-300 reactor design. The Ministry of State Assets has expressed growing impatience with the two-year stalemate over disputes on financing and technology flexibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Henkel: Global leader in industrial and consumer adhesives, comparable to Synthos's sustainable adhesives line. Competes in overlapping end-markets though anchored more in consumer/industrial assembly applications than chemical feedstocks.
• HB Fuller: US-listed industrial adhesives specialist serving packaging, hygiene, and construction markets. Comparable to Synthos's adhesive business as a competing supplier in industrial adhesive solutions, particularly in sustainability-driven reformulations.

Broad incumbents

• Arkema: French specialty chemicals producer with adhesive solutions via Bostik and a portfolio of advanced materials. Comparable to Synthos through overlapping adhesives and specialty polymer exposure, but with a much broader product portfolio.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with exposure to petrochemical feedstocks, performance chemicals, and adhesives. Comparable as a broad incumbent against which Synthos competes for industrial customers and capital, though BASF's scale and diversification dwarf Synthos's.
• LANXESS: German specialty chemicals incumbent with a substantial rubber chemicals and additives business serving tire and industrial customers. Comparable to Synthos through overlapping rubber value-chain participation, but operates across a much broader chemicals portfolio.
• Wacker Chemie: German specialty chemicals company producing silicones, polymers, and bio-engineered products for industrial customers. Comparable to Synthos as a competing European specialty polymer manufacturer with adjacent elastomer/silicone capabilities.

Direct peers

• Trinseo: Global styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and latex binder producer with direct overlap to Synthos's core SBR business serving tire, automotive, and industrial rubber customers. Comparable as a competing polymer manufacturer with similar product mix and end-market exposure.
• ARLANXEO: Synthetic rubber joint venture historically backed by LANXESS and Saudi Aramco, producing EPDM, NBR, BR, and SBR for tire and industrial rubber customers. Comparable to Synthos as one of the largest direct competitors in European synthetic rubber polymer manufacturing.
• Versalis: Eni's petrochemical subsidiary producing butadiene, SBR, EPDM, and elastomers with integrated C4 processing similar to Synthos's historical footprint. Comparable as a competing European petrochemicals-to-rubber integrated platform.
• Synthomer: UK-listed specialty polymers company with a strong SBR and emulsion polymers franchise serving footwear, textiles, and industrial markets. Comparable to Synthos as a competing synthetic rubber polymer producer targeting similar industrial customer segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synthos-s.a.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Synthos