What BTC does

BTC Europe GmbH is the European sales organization for BASF SE, distributing more than 6,000 specialty chemical products to approximately 17,000 small and medium-sized customers across 81 countries. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Monheim am Rhein, Germany, the company operates 11 warehouse sites across Europe and handles over 200,000 shipments per year with a fleet of 23,000 trucks covering approximately 100 million kilometers annually. Its portfolio spans more than 30 industries, including adhesives, agricultural solutions, automotive and industrial fluids, cleaning, coatings, construction, nutrition and health, packaging, personal care, and plastics and rubber.

The company's core digital asset is ChemShop, an e-commerce platform accessible via desktop browser and mobile applications (iOS and Android) that supports 12+ languages, enables 24/7 ordering, individual customer pricing, Track & Trace, barcode scanning, and offline functionality. ChemShop is complemented by the Solution Finder tool covering the full product portfolio and by field sales representatives providing local-language customer support across Europe. The platform is integrated with LiveChat/chatbot for 24/7 customer support and embedded YouTube product content.

BTC Europe generates revenue through specialty chemicals distribution on behalf of BASF and select third-party manufacturers (Westlake EPOLENE® waxes, Sudarshan pigments, Solutex Omega-3). Pricing is individual per customer and per article, with no public price list. The company is wholly owned by BASF SE and holds ISO 9001 (since 2004, renewed 2022), FAMI-QS (Burgbernheim branch), ISCC PLUS (2025), and Responsible Care (VCI) certifications. Approximately 500 employees support the operation across Europe, including ~180 at the German headquarters.

Name

BTC

Legal name

BTC Europe GmbH

Website

https://btc-europe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

BTC Europe GmbH is the European sales arm of BASF SE, distributing 6,000+ specialty chemicals to 17,000+ SMB customers across 81 countries via 11 warehouses and the ChemShop e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Monheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemicals Distribution: BTC Europe distributes specialty chemicals on behalf of BASF and select third-party manufacturers. The company serves approximately 17,000 customers across Europe from 11 warehouses, handling over 200,000 shipments annually. Revenue is generated through product distribution with individual customer pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BTC Europe distributes more than 6,000 specialty chemical products from BASF and selected third-party manufacturers to approximately 17,000 small and medium-sized business customers across 81 European countries. It combines direct field sales, eleven warehouses with more than 200,000 shipments per year, and the ChemShop e-commerce platform (web and iOS/Android apps) under individually negotiated pricing, complemented by technical consulting and logistics services.

Product overview

BTC Europe is the European sales organization for BASF, distributing specialty chemicals to small and medium-sized customers across more than 30 industries. The company operates as a distribution partner offering over 6,000 specialty chemical products from BASF and selected third-party manufacturers. The core product is the BTC Europe ChemShop - a unified e-commerce platform available via desktop and mobile apps (iOS/Android) that enables online ordering of the entire product portfolio. The company serves diverse industries including adhesives, agricultural solutions, automotive & industrial fluids, cleaning, coatings, construction, nutrition & health, packaging, personal care, and plastics & rubber. Key branded products include water-based adhesives (Epotal®), compostable biopolymers (Ecovio® PS 1606), performance additives (Accelothene® G5, TINUVIN®), lubricants (SYNATIVE®, GLYSANTIN®, BREOX®), coatings (ACRONAL®), and personal care ingredients (EMULGADE®). Technical and logistics services complement the product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BTC Europe ChemShop: Online e-commerce platform for purchasing specialty chemical products, available via desktop and mobile applications
• ChemShop

Products and services

• BTC Europe ChemShop BTC Europe's own e-commerce storefront for ordering specialty chemicals across the company's full portfolio, available on desktop and via iOS/Android apps. Provides individual pricing, product availability with standard delivery times, Track & Trace, barcode scanning for smart order entry, favorites list, order history with downloadable order documents, and easy reorder functionality for registered business customers.
• Solution Finder Online digital tool that helps customers find tailored specialty chemical products and applications for their specific industry requirements across more than 6,000 products.
• Technical Services Expert technical consulting offering for customers, including product selection, application support, problem-solving, laboratory studies, and on-site analysis for industrial users of specialty chemicals.
• Logistics Services Innovative logistics solutions with optimized transport processes ensuring timely, Track & Trace-supported delivery of specialty chemicals from 11 European warehouse sites, serving 17,000+ customers across 81 countries.
• Epotal® water-based adhesives for film-to-film lamination Water-based adhesives specifically developed for film-to-film lamination, enabling safe and recyclable packaging solutions for packaging manufacturers and converters.
• Ecovio® PS 1606 compostable biopolymer Biopolymer that enables paper-based ice cream packaging and coffee cups to be compostable, replacing conventional non-compostable coatings for food-service and packaging customers.
• Accelothene® G5 polyethylene additive New-generation additive technology for polyethylene-based polymer production that saves significant costs in manufacturing and recycling operations for plastics producers.
• GLYSANTIN® premium engine coolant Premium radiator coolant protection product for vehicle engines, offered in recycled packaging for automotive aftermarket and OEM customers.
• BREOX® TB lubricity additive Lubricity additive delivering outstanding performance, minimal friction, and strong thermal and oxidative stability for industrial and automotive lubricant formulations.
• ACRONAL® 6292 water-based acrylic binder Water-based acrylic binder for interior wall paints providing wet scrub resistance for architectural coatings manufacturers.
• NATUPHOS® 5000 COMBI G animal feed enzyme Animal nutrition enzyme product providing a '3-in-1' combination of nutritional benefits for livestock feed, distributed under the NATUPHOS® 5000 COMBI G brand.
• Sudaperm™ high-performance pigments Premium high-performance pigments for demanding coatings, plastics, and printing applications that require brilliant and durable colors, distributed by BTC Europe under the Sudaperm™ brand.
• Sudafast™ organic pigments Organic pigments product line for industrial applications requiring color performance and consistency, distributed by BTC Europe under the Sudafast™ brand.
• Sudajet™ inkjet pigments High-quality pigments engineered for inkjet and specialty printing applications, distributed by BTC Europe under the Sudajet™ brand.
• Sudacolor™ organic pigments Organic pigments product line for color applications across industrial customers, distributed by BTC Europe under the Sudacolor™ brand.
• EMULGADE® MEC/MB personal care emulsifier Emulsifier solution for nature-inspired personal care wet wipes, supplied to personal care product manufacturers under the EMULGADE® MEC/MB brand.
• SOKALAN® HP 20 detergent dispersing agent Dispersing agent for liquid monodose detergent formulations supplied to cleaning product manufacturers under the SOKALAN® HP 20 brand.
• TRILON® M sustainable chelating agent Sustainable chelating agent based on methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA) that is easily biodegradable and offers an excellent ecological profile for cleaning, detergent, and industrial customers under the TRILON® M brand.
• LUPRANOL®, LUPRANAT® and LUPRAPHEN® polyurethane raw materials Raw materials portfolio for high-performance polyurethane (PUR) foam systems covering the LUPRANOL®, LUPRANAT® and LUPRAPHEN® brands for foam manufacturers in the construction and adhesives industry.
• TINUVIN® XT 55 UV light stabilizer UV light stabilizer that extends the durability of artificial grass and other outdoor polymer applications, distributed under the TINUVIN® XT 55 brand.
• SYNATIVE® LE 6000 lubricant base stock Lubricant additive with improved lubrication capability for automotive and industrial fluid applications, distributed under the SYNATIVE® LE 6000 brand.
• EMGARD® HP 75W-90 high-performance axle oil High-performance axle oil for demanding automotive and industrial drivetrain applications, distributed under the EMGARD® HP 75W-90 brand.
• ACRONAL® PLUS 6257 roof coating binder Roof coating binder with good adhesion, watertightness, and elasticity properties, distributed under the ACRONAL® PLUS 6257 brand for sustainable roof coating formulations.
• POLYQUART® ECOCLEAN MAX bio-based cleaning polymer Bio-based polymer for cleaning products that combines performance with convenience for hard surface cleaning formulations, distributed under the POLYQUART® ECOCLEAN MAX brand.
• SYNATIVE® ES DPHA environmentally friendly lubricant Flexible and environmentally friendly lubricant for automotive and industrial fluid applications, distributed under the SYNATIVE® ES DPHA brand.

Named customers1 record

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026BTC Europe is the European sales organization for BASF, marketing more than 6,000 specialty chemical products. BTC has access to BASF's global research alliance with more than 10,000 scientists. The partnership includes capacity expansion investments in Düsseldorf for cosmetic ingredients.
• WestlakecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025BTC Europe signed a distribution agreement with Westlake for EPOLENE® Waxes in Europe. Westlake is a major manufacturer of polymer-based products.
• Sudarshan Chemical IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024BTC Europe and Sudarshan Chemical Industries signed an agreement for distribution of pigments in Europe, expanding the coatings industry portfolio.
• 3Helix Inc.strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024BASF invests in start-up 3Helix Inc. to jointly bring collagen-hybridizing peptide solutions to the personal care market. BTC distributes BASF's personal care products including these innovations.
• Solutex S.L.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBTC Europe signed a mutual exclusive distribution agreement with Solutex S.L. for its Omega-3 portfolio for the nutrition and dietary supplements market within the European Union.
• CELABstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASF is a co-founder of CELAB, working towards a circular economy for adhesive labels. BTC supports this sustainability initiative through product offerings.
• SchminckeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint commitment to sustainable solutions in the finest artists' colors industry, showcasing environmental responsibility in coatings formulations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMCD: European-headquartered specialty chemicals distributor with a strong focus on formulation-driven end markets (coatings, personal care, food, pharma) — directly overlapping with BTC's segments and SMB-to-mid-market customer orientation.
• Azelis: Specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with significant European presence and a multi-principal distribution model. Azelis competes with BTC for the same SMB and mid-market formulation customers across life sciences and industrial chemicals.
• Brenntag: World's largest chemical distributor, also headquartered in Germany. Brenntag serves industrial and specialty chemicals customers globally with comparable breadth of product categories and warehouse-based distribution, making it the closest comparable to BTC's B2B specialty chemicals distribution model.
• Caldic: Rotterdam-based specialty ingredients distributor focused on life science and industrial markets across Europe and Asia-Pacific. Directly comparable to BTC in serving formulation customers in personal care, coatings, and nutrition.
• Univar Solutions: North America-anchored global chemical and ingredients distributor with specialty chemicals exposure. Comparable in business model (multi-principal B2B distribution) and in serving end markets that overlap with BTC's segments.
• Biesterfeld: Hamburg-based specialty chemicals distributor serving polymers, rubber, and personal care/cosmetics markets across Europe. Overlaps directly with BTC's plastics & rubber and personal care segments, with similar third-party-principal distribution approach.

Regional players

• TER Group: Specialty chemicals distributor headquartered in Germany serving European industrial and life-science customers. Highly comparable business model and product mix, though more concentrated in the DACH region than BTC's pan-European footprint.
• HELM AG: Hamburg-based chemical distribution, marketing, and trading company with European and global reach. Operates a multi-principal distribution model comparable to BTC, including specialty intermediates and feed/nutrition adjacencies.
• Häffner & Co: German specialty chemicals distributor focused on industrial and consumer chemistry customers in German-speaking markets. Comparable in product portfolio (specialty intermediates, performance additives) and SMB customer base, though more regionally concentrated than BTC.

Broad incumbents

• BASF SE: Parent company and world's largest chemical producer. While BASF is principally a manufacturer rather than distributor, it is a strategic input/output counterparty for BTC and operates adjacent direct-distribution channels to large customers that overlap with BTC's SMB mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BTC_Europe

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 BTC