TER Chemicals Distribution
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1908
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
TER Chemicals Distribution firmographics
Firmographics- 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
TER Chemicals Distribution industry classification
Industry- 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
Where TER Chemicals Distribution is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices15 records
Markets served
TER Chemicals Distribution business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | B2B negotiated pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
TER Chemicals Distribution product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use TER Chemicals Distribution
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TER Chemicals Distribution technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
TER Chemicals Distribution partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ArchromacoreStrategic 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.
- SelectnutritioncoreTER 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.coreExpansion 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.
- SudarshanminorTER Chemicals appointed as distributor for expanded Sudarshan pigment portfolio in Germany and Austria. Sudarshan supplies pearlescent and specialty pigments for coatings and plastics applications.
- KRONOScorePartnership 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)coreTER 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 BotanicsminorPartnership with Blue Sky Botanics for PhytaPure™ PRO study-based active ingredients for cosmetic applications.
- SappiminorPartnership with Sappi for fibrillated cellulose products for cosmetic raw materials. Sappi enriches the market with diverse properties for cosmetic formulations.
- Momentive (Expanded Partnership)coreExpanded partnership with Momentive starting March 1, 2025, extending distribution coverage for Momentive's specialty chemical products.
- SOLLICE BIOTECHminorExclusive partnership for DACH region – SOLLICE BIOTECH from France enriches the TER portfolio with cosmetic active ingredients at a high-performer level.
- PROSCIENcoreExtension 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 ChemieminorExclusive partnership for Germany – TER took over the entire portfolio of Gräfe Chemie, a specialty chemical distributor, expanding TER's presence in the German market.
- ClariantcorePartnership 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 MaterialscoreDistribution 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)coreTER 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
TER Chemicals Distribution competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
TER Chemicals Distribution social profiles
Digital presenceTER Chemicals Distribution compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
TER Chemicals Distribution financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TER Chemicals Distribution leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
TER Chemicals Distribution subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries17 records
TER Chemicals Distribution funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TER Chemicals Distribution M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TER Chemicals Distribution
What does TER Chemicals Distribution do?
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.
Is TER Chemicals Distribution a public or private company?
TER Chemicals Distribution is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was TER Chemicals Distribution founded?
TER Chemicals Distribution was founded in 1908. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is TER Chemicals Distribution based?
TER Chemicals Distribution is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does TER Chemicals Distribution make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Chemical Distribution and Resale is the primary driver. The others are formulation and Application Development Services.
Who are TER Chemicals Distribution's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Brenntag SE and Univar Solutions. Direct peers are IMCD N.V. and Azelis Group NV.
Does TER Chemicals Distribution have an API?
No public API is recorded for TER Chemicals Distribution.
What industry is TER Chemicals Distribution in?
TER Chemicals Distribution's product category is Specialty Chemical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAIALAJ, Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Non-Hazmat Specialized Handling). Its NAICS code is 4246 and its SIC code is 5160.