IQOXE

What IQOXE does

IQOXE (legal name Industrias Químicas del Óxido de Etileno S.A.) is a Spanish petrochemical manufacturer and the sole producer of ethylene oxide (EO) in the Iberian Peninsula. Founded in 1961 and headquartered at the Tarragona petrochemical complex (Polígono Químico Sur, La Canonja), the company runs an integrated EO plant that produces EO plus a derivative portfolio spanning ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), ethoxylates, polyethylene glycols and polyols. Its in-house R&D laboratory develops and customizes formulations for industrial customers across PET, solvents, antifreeze/refrigerants, detergents, polyurethanes, plasticizers, gas treatment, inks and other specialty chemical applications.

The business is operated as a B2B enterprise chemicals franchise under a quote-based, multi-year contract model, with sales executed through direct field engagement and inside-sales channels (website contact form, email, telephone) and on-site supply into the Tarragona petrochemical cluster. Production is governed by an integrated management system certified by TÜV under ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety) and ISO 50001 (energy management), and the company pursues continuous reinvestment in equipment and energy efficiency — including a FEDER co-financed upgrade yielding an estimated 131.76 tep in annual energy savings for EO cooling.

Since 2014 IQOXE has operated as a subsidiary of Grupo Industrial CL, a Spanish industrial group described as one of the country's most solid corporate groups. Under CL's direction the company has reoriented toward international market leadership and advanced technology applications, with more than 95% stable employment supporting its operational continuity. No public listing, funding events, M&A activity, or AI/ML initiatives are disclosed in the input data.

Name

IQOXE

Legal name

Industrias Químicas del Óxido de Etileno S.A.

Website

https://iqoxe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IQOXE (Industrias Químicas del Óxido de Etileno S.A.) is the sole producer of ethylene oxide in the Iberian Peninsula, operating an integrated EO plant and derivatives facility (glycols, ethoxylates, PEGs, polyols) at Tarragona's petrochemical complex to serve industrial B2B customers under the Grupo Industrial CL group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Petrochemicals (Ethylene Oxide and EO Derivatives)

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery & Energy Storage High-Purity Chemicals (Electrolyte salts/solvents, additives) (IMAEAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives) (IMAEAKAK), Electrolytes & Additives Manufacturing (Liquid, Gel, Solid-State) (EUAFABAD)

Keywords

• Ethylene oxide production
• Petrochemical intermediates
• Ethylene glycols manufacturing
• EO derivatives supply
• Industrial chemical production

Headquarters

HQ city

La Canonja

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial chemical product sales (EO and EO derivatives): Revenue from sale of ethylene oxide and its derivatives (glycols such as MEG, DEG, TEG, ethoxylates, polyethylene glycols, polyols) to industrial customers; supply is contracted through direct commercial relationships, with R&D-driven customization of specifications and volumes per client.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IQOXE produces ethylene oxide (EO) as the sole manufacturer in the Iberian Peninsula at its Tarragona petrochemical complex, and from it manufactures a portfolio of EO derivatives organized into three families: ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), polyethylene glycols, and polyols. An in-house R&D laboratory continuously extends and customizes these intermediate products for industrial customers in petrochemicals, plastics, detergents, solvents, polyurethanes, gas treatment and other specialty chemical applications.

Product overview

IQOXE's offering is built around a single core product, ethylene oxide (Óxido de Etileno), which it produces as the sole manufacturer in the Iberian Peninsula at its Tarragona petrochemical complex, and from which it derives a multi-product portfolio of ethylene oxide derivatives (Derivados del Óxido de Etileno). The derivatives family is organized into three sub-product groups: ethylene glycols — Glicoles Etilénicos (MEG, DEG, TEG) — polyethylene glycols (Polietilenglicoles), and polyols (Polioles). IQOXE's in-house R&D laboratory continuously extends and customizes this portfolio for clients, backed by TUV-certified ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001 integrated management systems and the support of its parent Grupo Industrial CL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ethylene Oxide (Óxido de Etileno) Industrial-grade ethylene oxide, a basic chemical intermediate used by manufacturers of detergents, solvents, plastics and other downstream products. Produced exclusively by IQOXE in the Iberian Peninsula and supplied to the Tarragona petrochemical complex and global markets.
• Ethylene Oxide Derivatives (Derivados del Óxido de Etileno) Family of intermediate products derived from the reaction of ethylene oxide with an alcohol (OH) group, organized into three sub-product groups: ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), polyethylene glycols, and polyols. Targeted at industrial customers in petrochemicals, plastics, detergents, polyurethanes, gas treatment and specialty chemicals.
• Ethylene Glycols — MEG, DEG, TEG (Glicoles Etilénicos) Three glycol products: Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) for PET, solvents, antifreeze and refrigerants; Diethylene Glycol (DEG) for polyurethanes, emulsifiers, plasticizers and inks; Triethylene Glycol (TEG) as a desiccant in gas treatment and for resins/smoke production.
• Polyethylene Glycols (Polietilenglicoles) Polyethylene glycols produced from ethylene oxide, supplied as intermediates to industrial customers across the EO derivatives value chain and customized through R&D.
• Polyols (Polioles) Polyols produced from ethylene oxide, forming part of IQOXE's intermediates portfolio and supplied to industrial customers for polyurethane and specialty chemical applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Estimated annual energy savings of 131.76 tep from upgraded cold-generation equipment used to cool ethylene oxide (FEDER co-financed).
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / parent group, supporting (compliance) and supporting (governance).

• Grupo Industrial CLflagship / parent groupStrategic or Co-development PartnerIQOXE forms part of Grupo Industrial CL, described as one of the most solid business corporations in Spain. Under the direction of Grupo Industrial CL since 2014, the Tarragona plant has oriented its strategy towards consolidating its international leadership position and developing advanced technology. IQOXE shares the group's resources, corporate culture and human values, and routes job applications through the CL Grupo Industrial e-preselec platform.
• TÜV (certification body)supporting (compliance)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTÜV is the certification body that has audited and certified IQOXE's integrated management system under ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety) and ISO 50001 (energy efficiency).
• Lefebvre (Centinela ethics/compliance channel)supporting (governance)Technology or IntegrationIQOXE links to Lefebvre's Centinela channel as its 'Canal de cumplimiento' (compliance/ethics channel), providing a third-party-hosted whistle-blowing/compliance portal accessible from the website.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• INEOS: INEOS is one of the world's largest producers of ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide derivatives, with integrated EO/EG plants across Europe and globally. It is directly comparable to IQOXE on core EO chemistry and EO-derivative portfolio (MEG, DEG, TEG, ethoxylates, polyols), but operates at far greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Dow: Dow is one of the largest global producers of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG), serving PET, antifreeze and industrial markets. It is directly comparable to IQOXE on EO/glycol production technology and customer segments, but at global incumbent scale.
• SABIC: SABIC is one of the world's largest petrochemical producers and a major global manufacturer of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycols. Comparable to IQOXE as an EO/EG producer with downstream derivatives, but operates as a global broad incumbent with diversified feedstock and geographic footprint.
• Shell Chemicals: Shell Chemicals is a major global producer of ethylene and downstream EO/EG products, integrated with its cracker operations. Comparable to IQOXE on EO chemistry and product family, but operates at global incumbent scale with proprietary ethylene feedstock.
• BASF: BASF is the world's largest chemical company and a major global producer of ethylene oxide and EO derivatives, including MEG and specialty glycols. Comparable to IQOXE as a direct EO/EO-derivative producer with integrated downstream chemistry, but operates as a broad incumbent across the full chemicals value chain.
• LyondellBasell: LyondellBasell is a leading global producer of ethylene, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycols, with significant European operations. Comparable to IQOXE on EO/EG chemistry and downstream applications, but as a global broad incumbent with upstream ethylene integration.

Others

• Indorama Ventures: Indorama Ventures is the world's largest PET producer and a major consumer of monoethylene glycol (MEG), one of IQOXE's core products. Comparable to IQOXE as a downstream counterpart in the MEG/PET value chain — a key customer segment for IQOXE's ethylene glycols — though it does not produce EO itself.

Regional players

• Repsol (Repsol Química): Repsol is a Spanish integrated energy and petrochemical company with petrochemical operations at Tarragona and Puertollano producing ethylene and derivatives. Comparable to IQOXE as a Spanish petrochemical producer sharing the Tarragona cluster, and a potential competitor/partner for EO-related feedstock and downstream integration.
• Cepsa (CEPSA Química): Cepsa is a Spanish energy and chemical company with petrochemical operations at Palos de la Frontera and integrated LAB/detergent intermediates. Comparable to IQOXE as a Spanish petrochemical/specialty chemical producer and potential regional supplier of related intermediates to detergents and surfactants markets.

Emerging players

• Oriental Petrochemical (Taiwan): Oriental Petrochemical is a Taiwanese producer of ethylene oxide and EO derivatives (glycol ethers, ethoxylates, PEG), supplying Asian surfactants, solvents and specialty markets. Comparable to IQOXE as an EO-derivative specialist with similar product portfolio (glycols, ethoxylates, PEG), but focused on Asian markets rather than Iberia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Iqoxe_oe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iqoxe

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 IQOXE