TER Chemicals Distribution

What TER Chemicals Distribution does

TER Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG is a Hamburg-based specialty chemical and food ingredient distributor operating under the privately held TER Group, a family enterprise founded in 1908. The company distributes additives, binders, dispersions, plastics, resins, fillers, waxes, and food/feed ingredients to industrial customers across at least 11 verticals including industrial manufacturing (the primary segment), beauty and personal care, food and nutrition, pharma and health care, and animal nutrition. The technical proposition rests on an in-house application laboratory at Flörsheim am Main, a proprietary formulation database branded as innovaTERkitchen for cosmetic applications, formulation consulting, and quality management including supplier audits. Logistics and customs handling are supported by AEO-F certification (held since 2011) and the in-group logistics arm LZ Logistik GmbH (acquired 2014). The company also holds an in-house wax production capability following the 2024 acquisition of Evonik's VESTOWAX Fischer-Tropsch wax business.

Commercially, TER Chemicals operates a sales-led, B2B distribution model with field sales, inside sales, and dedicated Key Account Management. Pricing is individually negotiated with 30-day payment terms (3% Skonto within 14 days for suppliers) and ex-works (ab Werk) terms; currency hedging and Euler Hermes credit insurance are offered for key accounts. Revenue is generated primarily through chemical resale and, secondarily, through formulation and application development services. Geographic reach spans 22 locations across Europe (Germany, France, Italy, UK, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark), Asia Pacific (Hong Kong), and North America (Pennsylvania), supported by 14 wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Distribution partnerships with global manufacturers are a core commercial pillar: TER Chemicals holds or has recently expanded distribution agreements with Archroma (polymer dispersions), Momentive (silicones and foam control across 14 European countries), Clariant (specialty chemicals, extended to CEE), KRONOS (titanium dioxide), Sappi (fibrillated cellulose), Colonial Chemical, Sudarshan, and others. The company reports approximately €409M in revenue and 358 employees in the TER Chemicals entity, within a broader TER Group of 1,150+ employees, 41 subsidiaries, and 9 production sites. Management comprises four Managing Directors (Christian A. Westphal, Andreas Früh, Uta Seiler as CFO & General Management, Oliver Leptien); the group is privately held with no disclosed PE/VC or public ownership.

Name

TER Chemicals Distribution

Legal name

TER Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://terchemicals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

TER Chemicals is a Hamburg-based specialty chemical and food ingredient distributor serving industrial manufacturing, beauty and personal care, food and nutrition, pharma, and animal nutrition customers across 22 locations in Europe, Asia, and the US, with in-house formulation and wax production capabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Non-Hazmat Specialized Handling) (TLAIALAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals distribution
• Food ingredients supply
• Industrial chemicals trading
• Chemical logistics services
• Formulation development

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Distribution and Resale: TER Chemicals imports and resells specialty chemicals, additives, binders, dispersions, plastics, resins, fillers, and waxes to industrial customers. The company acts as a global importer and distributor, offering technical expertise, logistics, formulation support, and quality management as value-add services.
2. Formulation and Application Development Services: Joint product innovation, application laboratory services, and formulation support for customers developing new products, particularly in cosmetics. Services include product trials, prototyping, and customer testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

TER Chemicals Distribution is a Hamburg-based specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor operating as part of the TER Group family enterprise founded in 1908. The company supplies industrial and life-science customers across adhesives, plastics, coatings, personal care, pharma, and food & nutrition markets, providing formulation development, warehousing, and dedicated chemical logistics through its own LZ Logistik subsidiary.

Product overview

TER Chemicals is a globally operating specialty chemical distributor organized under the TER Group umbrella, offering chemical distribution services across multiple industry segments. The company operates through its main TER Chemicals division and TER Ingredients subsidiary, providing a broad portfolio of chemicals, ingredients, and materials. Core services include procurement, logistics, product development support via an application laboratory, and formulation consulting. The company serves diverse markets including adhesives, plastics, rubber, coatings, construction, lubricants, home care, beauty and personal care, pharma and healthcare, food and nutrition, and animal nutrition. TER Ingredients focuses specifically on high-grade ingredients for life science applications with emphasis on food ingredients deliveries to Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TER Ingredients: A leading supplier of high-grade ingredients and additives in life science applications serving food, feed, personal care, health care, and home care industries with focus on deliveries to Europe.
• innovaTERkitchen

Products and services

• Specialty Chemicals Distribution
• Food Ingredients Distribution
• Life Science Ingredients Distribution
• Chemical Logistics Services
• Application Laboratory Services
• Warehousing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• AEO-certified since 2011, enabling streamlined customs procedures
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ArchromacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2026Strategic distribution partnership for Archroma's advanced polymer dispersions in Europe. TER Chemicals will distribute Archroma's polymer dispersion products across European markets, expanding its coatings and construction materials portfolio.
• SelectnutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026TER Chemicals acquired Selectnutrition, a specialty nutrition ingredients distributor based in Zurich/Hamburg. This acquisition strengthens TER's position in the food and animal nutrition segments.
• Colonial Chemical, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Expansion of strategic partnership with Colonial Chemical, a leading US manufacturer of sustainable specialty surfactants. TER Chemicals distributes Colonial Chemical's innovative surfactant products for personal care and industrial applications in European markets.
• SudarshanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 October 2025TER Chemicals appointed as distributor for expanded Sudarshan pigment portfolio in Germany and Austria. Sudarshan supplies pearlescent and specialty pigments for coatings and plastics applications.
• KRONOScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 July 2025Partnership with KRONOS, a leading manufacturer of titanium dioxide. TER Chemicals and KRONOS collaborate on TMP-free titanium dioxide solutions for coatings and cosmetics.
• Momentive (Food & Beverage Foam Control)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 July 2025TER Ingredients, a subsidiary of TER Group, appointed as official distribution partner for Momentive's food and beverage foam control solutions across 14 European countries.
• Blue Sky BotanicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2025Partnership with Blue Sky Botanics for PhytaPure™ PRO study-based active ingredients for cosmetic applications.
• SappiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 May 2025Partnership with Sappi for fibrillated cellulose products for cosmetic raw materials. Sappi enriches the market with diverse properties for cosmetic formulations.
• Momentive (Expanded Partnership)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2025Expanded partnership with Momentive starting March 1, 2025, extending distribution coverage for Momentive's specialty chemical products.
• SOLLICE BIOTECHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 February 2025Exclusive partnership for DACH region – SOLLICE BIOTECH from France enriches the TER portfolio with cosmetic active ingredients at a high-performer level.
• PROSCIENcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Extension of long-standing collaboration with PROSCIEN, effective January 1, 2025. TER Chemicals expanded its distribution partnership with PROSCIEN for distribution of PROSCIEN's products in its distribution territories.
• Gräfe ChemieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Exclusive partnership for Germany – TER took over the entire portfolio of Gräfe Chemie, a specialty chemical distributor, expanding TER's presence in the German market.
• ClariantcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Partnership expansion to Central and Eastern Europe – TER Chemicals extends its successful partnership with Clariant by taking on distribution of Clariant's specialty chemicals in CEE markets.
• Momentive Performance MaterialscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 December 2024Distribution partnership expansion covering Momentive's specialty silicone and foam control products across Europe. Expanded from initial coverage to 14 European countries including food and beverage foam control solutions.
• Evonik (VESTOWAX)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024TER Chemicals acquired the modified Fischer-Tropsch Wax business (VESTOWAX) from Evonik, one of the world's leaders in specialty chemicals. This acquisition expanded TER's wax portfolio and production capabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag SE: Brenntag is the world's largest chemical distributor (>€15B revenue) with a global network distributing specialty and industrial chemicals across multiple end markets including the same cosmetics, food, and coatings verticals TER Chemicals serves. Comparable as a direct competitor in European specialty chemical distribution, though at substantially greater scale.
• Univar Solutions:

Direct peers

• IMCD N.V. IMCD is a leading European-headquartered specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong formulation and technical support capabilities, serving personal care, food, pharma, and industrial markets. Closely comparable to TER Chemicals in business model, vertical focus, and value-added services orientation.
• Azelis Group NV: Azelis is a global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong positions in personal care, food, pharma, and CASE markets, and significant emphasis on application labs and formulation support. Highly comparable to TER Chemicals in portfolio, customer verticals, and technical-service differentiation strategy.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TerChemicals
• Facebookfacebook.com/TERGROUP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/terchemicals

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries17 records

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 TER Chemicals Distribution