Brenntag
Brenntag is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor, connecting 18,000+ suppliers with 290,000+ industrial customers across 70 countries through 600+ sites, 31 Innovation Centers, and two divisions (Essentials and Specialties).
- Company typePublic
- Founded1874
- HeadquartersEssen, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Brenntag does
Brenntag SE is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor, headquartered in Essen, Germany, and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker: BNR, DAX constituent). Founded in 1874, the company operates an asset-light distribution model through two global divisions — Brenntag Essentials (commodity/scale distribution) and Brenntag Specialties (higher-margin specialty and ingredients) — across four geographic segments (EMEA, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific). FY2024 sales were €16.2 billion, with FY2025 sales of approximately $17.8 billion per the ICIS Top 100 ranking, serving 290,000+ customers from 18,000+ suppliers via 600+ sites in 70 countries, supported by 18,100+ employees and 31 Innovation & Application Centers providing formulation, regulatory, and technical services.
The company distributes more than 10,000 chemical and ingredient products sourced from a global supplier base and resells them to industrial manufacturers under quote-based, transaction pricing. Primary customer verticals include Food & Nutrition, Pharma & Biopharma, Beauty & Personal Care, CASE & Construction, Polymers, Energy Services, Batteries, and Industrial Chemicals. Revenue is generated through take-rate margins on bulk chemical distribution, supplemented by value-added services (custom blending, milling, formulation development, regulatory compliance support, vendor-managed inventory, and global key account coordination). Proprietary assets include branded compound lines (ALAMID, TRIBOFORCE, TECDUR, NYLAFORCE, THERMOFORCE), ingredient brands (CosVivet, Kenapure, Primesurf), and the newly launched BYPHAR biopharma brand; digital platforms include Brenntag Connect (e-commerce/ordering) and CO2-Xplorer (carbon tracking).
The go-to-market model combines enterprise field sales with dedicated regional teams, a Global Key Accounts program for multinational customers, exclusive distribution partnerships with major producers (Westlake Epoxy, Nouryon, Röhm, ADM, Arla Foods Ingredients), and digital self-service through Brenntag Connect. Growth has been driven both organically (Innovation Center expansion in Shanghai and Mumbai, APAC buildout, specialty mix shift) and through acquisitions (Airedale Group, Chem Tech Services, PIC/PharmaSpecial, Quimica Delta, Lawrence Industries, Solventis, Colony Gums). FY2025 results showed revenue and EBITDA decline versus 2022 peak, but 2026 guidance was raised to €1.25-1.40B EBITDA after Q2 2026 EBITDA of ~€450 million (up 35% year-over-year), suggesting an inflection toward recovery.
Brenntag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brenntag
- Legal name
- Brenntag GmbH
- Website
- https://brenntag.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1874
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Brenntag is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor, connecting 18,000+ suppliers with 290,000+ industrial customers across 70 countries through 600+ sites, 31 Innovation Centers, and two divisions (Essentials and Specialties).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brenntag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chemical Distribution
- NAICS
- Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food-Grade Chemicals & Processing Aids Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ingredients, Spices & Culinary Supplies Distribution (CRAOABAK), Import/Export Broadline Foodservice Distributors (AFAIAAAH), International Specialty Ingredients & Import Markets (CRAHAFAL)
Keywords
Where Brenntag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Essen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Brenntag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Chemical Distribution: Brenntag generates revenue by purchasing chemicals in bulk from producers and reselling tailored packages to industrial customers. Revenue is driven by volume of distributed chemicals, pricing margins, and value-added services such as custom blending, formulation support, and logistics services. The company operates on an asset-light model with over 600 sites globally.
- Value-Added Services: Additional revenue streams from services including blending solutions, milling and micronizing, regulatory compliance support, and technical formulation services. These services enhance margins and create customer stickiness.
- Specialty Chemical Distribution: Higher-margin distribution of specialty chemicals with customized formulations and technical support, serving Life Sciences (pharma, food, beauty) and Material Science segments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Product pricing varies by volume, specification, and service requirements |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Brenntag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brenntag is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor, sourcing products from 18,000+ global producers and reselling tailored packages to 290,000+ industrial customers across 70 countries. The company operates two global divisions—Brenntag Essentials (commodity chemicals) and Brenntag Specialties (specialty chemicals)—and provides value-added services including custom blending, formulation support, regulatory guidance, and supply chain optimization through 31 Innovation & Application Centers and 600+ sites worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CosVivet: Bio-based ingredient brand for beauty and personal care applications
- ALAMID
- NYLAFORCE
- TECDUR
- THERMOFORCE
- TRIBOFORCE
- BYPHAR
- Kenapure
- Primesurf
Products and services
- Brenntag Essentials Global division distributing commodity chemicals (solvents, inorganic chemicals, bulk industrial inputs) to industrial customers with full-line, single-source supply solutions and efficient logistics.
- Brenntag Specialties Global division distributing specialty chemicals and ingredients with value-added formulation support, technical expertise, and tailored solutions for life sciences (pharma, food, beauty) and material sciences (CASE, polymers) industries.
- Brenntag Connect Online digital platform for existing customers providing product ordering, order tracking, regulatory document access, and account management for chemical procurement.
- CO2-Xplorer Sustainability tool that enables customers to calculate and monitor carbon footprints across their chemical supply chain purchases, supporting emissions reporting and reduction planning.
- Innovation & Application Centers Global network of 31 application centers providing formulation development, product testing, analytical services, and technical support for customers across pharma, food, beauty, CASE, and polymer industries.
- BYPHAR Biopharma Solutions Specialized biopharma product portfolio consolidating raw materials, GMP-compliant facilities, and value-added services for biopharmaceutical manufacturers including biotechs, CDMOs, and producers of vaccines, biosimilars, and cell and gene therapies.
- ALAMID Polymer Compound Series Proprietary polymer compound portfolio including ALAMID (wide-range performance), ALAMID D (magnetically detectable), NYLAFORCE (glass-fiber reinforced), TECDUR (high-precision), THERMOFORCE (thermally/electrically conductive), and TRIBOFORCE (PFAS-free tribologically optimized) compounds for industrial applications.
- CosVivet Bio-based Ingredients Bio-based ingredient brand for beauty and personal care, featuring fermentation-derived actives such as Omega-7 biolipid (CosVivet ActiLipid O7), APG surfactant ranges, and natural wax alternatives for sustainable cosmetic formulations.
- Kenapure Personal Care Ingredients Proprietary beauty and personal care ingredient portfolio offering sustainable and naturally derived ingredients for cosmetic and personal care product formulations.
- Primesurf Surfactants Proprietary surfactant and surface-care ingredient brand serving personal care and industrial cleaning applications.
- Value-Added Services (Blending, Milling, Repackaging) Custom blending, milling, micronizing, repackaging, and formulation services that tailor chemical products to specific customer specifications, including GMP-grade buffer preparation at the Czech Pharma GMP Hub.
Quantifiable outcome
- Served over 290,000 customers globally across pharmaceuticals, food, personal care, and industrial manufacturing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Brenntag
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Brenntag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Brenntag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- NouryoncoreExclusive marketing partnership for cellulose ethers in Brazil for paint and printing ink industry. Expanded from existing Latin America collaboration to strengthen market presence in growing specialty chemicals market.
- InsempracoreExclusive global distribution agreement for Insempra's fermentation-derived Omega-7 biolipid (CosVivet ActiLipid O7) for beauty and personal care industry. Product debuted at in-cosmetics Global 2026. Partnership signals Brenntag's shift toward proprietary bio-based ingredient portfolio.
- Westlake EpoxycoreBrenntag distributes Westlake Epoxy's portfolio of epoxy solutions including EPON, EPIKOTE, EPIKURE and EPI-REZ product lines for coatings, adhesives and construction applications. Partnership expanded to South and West India in 2026, building on existing collaboration across Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.
- NouryoncoreStrategic distribution agreement with Nouryon Specialties to enhance market presence in the U.S. for green chelates (Dissolvine GL Premium), supporting sustainability initiatives in cleaning and industrial applications.
- CalyxiastrategicExclusive partnership bringing sustainable microencapsulation technology to Brenntag's global beauty and care portfolio, enabling delivery of innovative encapsulated ingredients for personal care formulations.
- RöhmcoreRenewed distribution partnership for polymer materials including PLEXIGLAS proTerra across 23 European countries. Three-decade partnership focused on sustainable products for automotive, lighting, and electronics industries.
- ADMcoreExclusive regional agreement to supply soy-based feed additives that can improve feed-conversion ratios by up to 10 percent. Supports animal nutrition customers in Saudi Arabia and Middle East markets.
- ArcticZymescoreExclusive distribution agreement for salt-active nucleases in Europe for bioprocessing applications including gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing. Signed at CPHI fair in Frankfurt, leveraging Brenntag's distribution network for enhanced market access.
- SEQENSstrategicStrategic partnership between SEQENS and Brennata (Brenntag) for production and distribution capabilities expansion in specialty chemicals market.
- Arla Foods IngredientscoreExpanded collaboration into Southeast Asia for food ingredients distribution, building on existing successful partnership to provide regional manufacturers with access to Arla's protein and dairy ingredient portfolio.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Brenntag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Azelis: Belgian-headquartered specialty ingredients distributor operating in life sciences (food, pharma, personal care) and industrial markets. Directly competes with Brenntag's Specialties division via similar principal-supplier partnerships and application lab capabilities.
- Helm AG: German privately-held chemical distribution company with comparable crop protection, life sciences, and industrial chemical distribution operations across Europe, Americas, and Asia. Direct peer in commodity and specialty distribution.
- Barentz: Dutch-based specialty ingredients distributor serving food, nutrition, personal care, and pharma markets; comparable to Brenntag's Life Sciences division, particularly in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Direct competitor with strong specialty application capabilities.
- Biesterfeld: German family-owned chemical and ingredients distributor serving specialty chemicals, polymers, rubber, and food/feed across Europe and key emerging markets. Direct regional competitor with overlapping supplier portfolios and life-science focus.
- Manuchar: Belgian-headquartered industrial chemicals and raw materials distributor with strong emerging-market presence across Africa, Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Comparable in commodity distribution and regional trading operations.
- Univar Solutions: North America's largest chemical and ingredients distributor (formerly Univar, now owned by Apollo). Directly competes with Brenntag across industrial chemicals, life sciences, and food ingredients distribution in overlapping geographies with comparable specialty/commodity split.
- Caldic: Specialty ingredients distributor (owned by Advent International) operating across life sciences and industrial end markets globally. Direct competitor in food/pharma/personal care with comparable innovation center and formulation approach.
- IMCD Group: Specialty chemicals and ingredients distribution company listed in Amsterdam; operates across food, pharma, personal care, and industrial sectors with a higher specialty mix than Brenntag. Direct competitor for specialty distribution mandates and formulation services globally.
- ICC Industries / ICC Chemical: Privately-held global chemical and ingredient distributor with significant trading and distribution across specialty and industrial chemicals, overlapping with Brenntag in caustic soda, oleochemicals, and life sciences.
Regional players
- TER Group: Specialty chemical distribution company headquartered in Hamburg; serves pharmaceutical, food, personal care, and industrial customers across Europe with comparable value-added formulation and technical service offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Brenntag social profiles
Digital presenceBrenntag compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Brenntag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brenntag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Brenntag subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
Brenntag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brenntag M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A65 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brenntag
What does Brenntag do?
Brenntag is the world's largest chemical and ingredients distributor, sourcing products from 18,000+ global producers and reselling tailored packages to 290,000+ industrial customers across 70 countries. The company operates two global divisions—Brenntag Essentials (commodity chemicals) and Brenntag Specialties (specialty chemicals)—and provides value-added services including custom blending, formulation support, regulatory guidance, and supply chain optimization through 31 Innovation & Application Centers and 600+ sites worldwide.
Is Brenntag a public or private company?
Brenntag is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Brenntag founded?
Brenntag was founded in 1874. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Brenntag based?
Brenntag is headquartered in Essen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Brenntag make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Chemical Distribution is the primary driver. The others are value-Added Services and specialty Chemical Distribution.
Who are Brenntag's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Azelis, Helm AG, Barentz, Biesterfeld, Manuchar, Univar Solutions, Caldic, IMCD Group and ICC Industries / ICC Chemical. TER Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Brenntag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brenntag.
What industry is Brenntag in?
Brenntag's product category is Chemical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAKAJ, Food-Grade Chemicals & Processing Aids Trading/Wholesale, with a secondary code of CRAOABAK, Ingredients, Spices & Culinary Supplies Distribution. Its NAICS code is 4246 and its SIC code is 5160.