First Chemical Group

What First Chemical Group does

First Chemical Group is a privately held Taiwanese enterprise founded in 1963 by Mr. Ten-Yi Chen, organized as a two-entity chemical and cosmetics conglomerate. First Chemical Co., Ltd., headquartered in Taipei, operates the legacy B2B specialty chemicals business spanning special-purpose chemicals, cosmetic ingredients, natural essential oils and fragrances, dyes and colorants, water treatment agents, testing agents, and DIY materials. Under the second generation of family management (in place since 1985), the group vertically extended downstream in 2004 by establishing First Cosmetics Manufacture Co., Ltd., a GMP-certified manufacturing entity based in the Hwa Ya Science Park in Taoyuan, which owns and operates the consumer skincare brand 'de'.

The 'de' brand markets natural and effective skincare products formulated with simple, low-burden ingredient lists and packaged exclusively in 100% recyclable materials, aligned with a stated 'simple & natural' philosophy. Manufacturing is conducted at the Taoyuan GMP-certified facility, providing verified quality control and traceability. The group's product portfolio draws direct on five decades of internal raw material expertise in the parent chemicals unit, giving it an unusual vertical integration from specialty ingredients through to finished consumer goods.

Go-to-market is hybrid. First Chemical serves B2B customers — manufacturers and businesses requiring cosmetic ingredients, essential oils, fragrances, and specialty chemical inputs — via direct sales on a quote-based transactional pricing model. First Cosmetics sells 'de' branded skincare direct-to-consumer through 14 owned specialty retail stores distributed across Taiwan and two first-party e-commerce storefronts (第一化工購物網 and 第一化粧品購物網), supplemented by a Facebook brand page for engagement. The company has logged over one million customer experiences and operates exclusively within the Taiwan domestic market with no disclosed international expansion, external institutional investment, or public listing. Certifications include Cosmetic GMP (2013), Taiwan MIT Smile Mark, and the National Quality Guarantee Golden Award (2005).

Name

First Chemical Group

Legal name

第一化工原料股份有限公司 (First Chemical Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://firstchem.com.tw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

First Chemical Group is a Taiwan-based, family-held chemicals and cosmetics conglomerate founded in 1963, operating a B2B specialty chemicals unit and the D2C natural skincare brand 'de' via 14 retail stores and e-commerce platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals & Cosmetics

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural/Organic & Clean Skincare (CRABAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils) (CRADANAC)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals
• Cosmetic ingredients
• Natural skincare products
• Chemical raw materials
• Fragrance essential oils

Headquarters

HQ city

Taipei

HQ country

Taiwan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consumer Skincare Products: Direct-to-consumer sales of 'de' brand natural skincare and cosmetics products through owned retail stores and e-commerce platforms. Products emphasize natural, simple formulations with eco-friendly packaging.
2. Chemical Raw Materials: B2B sales of specialty chemicals, cosmetics ingredients, natural essential oils, fragrances, dyes, water treatment agents, and DIY materials to manufacturers and businesses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

First Chemical Group manufactures and sells specialty chemical raw materials (cosmetic ingredients, natural essential oils, fragrances, dyes, water treatment agents, testing agents, DIY materials) through First Chemical Co., Ltd., and produces natural skincare/cosmetics products under its 'de' brand through First Cosmetics Manufacture Co., Ltd. Consumer products are distributed via owned specialty retail stores across Taiwan and proprietary e-commerce platforms, while chemical raw materials are supplied B2B to manufacturers and businesses.

Product overview

First Chemical Group operates as a two-entity chemical and cosmetics conglomerate: First Chemical Manufacture Co., Ltd. (established 1963) provides chemical raw materials including special-purpose chemicals, cosmetic ingredients, natural essential oils, fragrances, dyes, water treatment agents, and DIY materials; while First Cosmetics Manufacture Co., Ltd. (established 2004) operates the 'de' skincare brand, offering natural and effective cosmetic products with 100% recyclable packaging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• de: Natural skincare and cosmetics brand launched in 2004, emphasizing 'simple & natural' concept with 100% recyclable packaging and relaxing shopping environments. Products include complete lines of natural, characteristic and effective skincare items.

Products and services

• de (第一化粧品) Natural Skincare Brand Complete line of natural, characteristic, and effective skincare and cosmetic products sold under the 'de' brand. The brand emphasizes 'simple & natural' formulations and 100% recyclable packaging, and is targeted at health-conscious Taiwanese consumers through 14 specialty retail stores and dedicated e-commerce platforms.
• Chemical Raw Materials (化學原料) Specialty chemical raw materials and cosmetic ingredients supplied B2B, including basic chemical materials, special-purpose chemicals, cosmetic ingredients, natural essential oils and fragrances, dyes and colorants, water treatment agents, testing agents, and DIY materials. Sold to beauty product manufacturers and other businesses requiring professional-grade chemical inputs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 specialty stores across Taiwan by 2013
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Naruko 牛爾 (NARUKO): Taiwan-origin natural skincare and cosmetics brand with retail stores across Taiwan, Greater China, and Southeast Asia, plus e-commerce channels. Directly comparable on natural-ingredient positioning, multi-channel retail, and target consumer.
• My Beauty Diary 我的美麗日記: Iconic Taiwanese mask and skincare brand owned by Cosmax Taiwan, sold across Asia. Comparable as a Taiwanese CPG skincare brand with mass-premium positioning and broad retail distribution.
• Neogence 霓淨思: Taiwan skincare brand with broad skincare lines sold through pharmacies, specialty retail, and e-commerce. Comparable on Taiwan market focus, multi-channel distribution, and mid-premium price positioning.
• For Beloved One 寵愛之名: Taiwan-origin premium skincare brand focusing on bio-fermented and natural ingredients. Comparable on Taiwan market, premium positioning, and specialty-retail distribution.
• Dr. Wu 達爾膚 (DR.WU): Taiwan dermatologist-founded skincare brand offering clinical and natural-positioned skincare lines, with similar mix of specialty retail, e-commerce, and Asian-market footprint. Most directly comparable Taiwanese peer given overlapping channel strategy and natural-leaning positioning.

Broad incumbents

• L'Occitane en Provence: Global natural-ingredient beauty brand with strong presence in Taiwan and Asia. Comparable on "natural & simple" brand philosophy, eco-friendly packaging, and premium specialty-retail channel strategy.
• BASF Care Chemicals: Global specialty chemicals supplier with a major personal care ingredients division. Comparable as an incumbent in the cosmetic ingredients/raw materials space that First Chemical's B2B unit competes against.
• Givaudan: World's largest fragrance and flavor house with deep cosmetic-ingredient portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent B2B supplier of fragrances and cosmetic actives, the categories where First Chemical's ingredients arm operates.
• The Body Shop: Global natural-ingredient and ethically sourced beauty retailer with Taiwan operations. Comparable on natural-ingredient positioning, recyclable packaging ethos, and specialty-store retail model.
• Symrise: Global supplier of fragrances, cosmetic ingredients, and natural essential oils. Directly relevant peer for First Chemical's B2B ingredients portfolio across fragrances, essential oils, and personal care actives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/deCosmetics

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 First Chemical Group