What VERBIO does

Verbio SE is a German publicly listed biorefinery company (Frankfurt Prime Standard, ticker VBK / ISIN DE000A0JL9W6) that converts agricultural raw materials and residues into climate-friendly fuels, green energy, and bio-based chemicals. The company operates four large-scale production sites in Germany (Zörbig, Schwedt, Bitterfeld-Wolfen under construction), the United States (Nevada, Iowa), India, and Hungary (XiMo catalyst plant under construction), employing 1,400+ people globally. Its core process technologies include the world's first large-scale industrial straw-based biomethane plant (commercial since 2014), integrated bioethanol-biomethane production with co-product recovery, and Nobel Prize-winning olefin metathesis (ethenolysis) technology deployed through its wholly-owned subsidiary XiMo, acquired in 2018.

The product portfolio spans three business lines: Mobility (biodiesel from rapeseed oil, bioethanol, and biomethane sold as BioCNG/BioLNG through a 25-station company-owned refueling network and to logistics fleets), Specialty Chemicals (9-DAME and 1-decene produced via ethenolysis at the Bitterfeld plant and XiMo metathesis catalysts), and By-Products (pharmaceutical-grade glycerin, phytosterols, distiller's grain, plant proteins, and fertilizer) sold into chemical, cosmetics, pharma, food, animal nutrition, and agriculture customers. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales via quote-based transaction pricing, with FY2024/25 revenue of EUR 1,579.8M (FY2025/26 EBITDA guidance EUR 160-180M after a EUR 14.2M trough).

The business model is anchored in EU and German regulatory demand for renewable fuels and bio-based content (RED III quota, Building Modernization Act), enabling Verbio to monetize GHG quotas, integrated co-product extraction, and direct downstream fuel distribution. Customers are predominantly enterprise industrial buyers (hauliers, logistics fleets, chemical companies, regional farmers) across Europe, North America, and Asia. The competitive moat rests on proprietary process technology, regulatory positioning, and an integrated biorefinery footprint that converts a single biomass input into multiple revenue streams.

Name

VERBIO

Legal name

Verbio SE

Website

https://verbio.de

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Verbio SE is a German publicly listed biorefinery producing biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, and bio-based specialty chemicals from agricultural residues at integrated plants in Europe, North America, and Asia, serving logistics, chemical, and agricultural customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advanced Biofuels and Bio-based Chemicals

NAICS

Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172)

akta.pro primary industry

RNG Liquefaction & Compression (Bio-LNG, Bio-CNG) (EUAAAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuel Blending, Storage & Terminal Operations (EUAAAHAH), Biofuel Co-products & Byproduct Processing (DDGS, Glycerin, CO2, Lignin) (EUAAAHAJ), Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD), Biofuel Distribution & Fuel Marketing (Wholesale/Retail) (EUAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Advanced biofuels production
• Biomethane manufacturing
• Bio-based specialty chemicals
• Olefin metathesis catalysts
• Agricultural biomass conversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Zörbig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biodiesel and Bioethanol Sales: Production and sale of biodiesel from rapeseed oil and bioethanol from agricultural feedstocks. Products sold to fuel distributors and industrial customers. Revenue affected by GHG quota prices and ethanol spreads.
2. Biomethane (BioCNG/BioLNG) Sales: Production and sale of biomethane as BioCNG and BioLNG for transport sector, particularly heavy-duty trucks. Sold directly at 25 company-owned filling stations and to logistics companies with their own fleets.
3. Bio-based Specialty Chemicals: Production of renewable specialty chemicals including methyl 9-decenoate (9-DAME), 1-decene, and other bio-based molecules for chemical industry customers in detergents, lubricants, polymers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
4. Animal Feed and Fertilizer: Distiller's grain from bioethanol production used as animal feed. Protein extraction from mash for animal nutrition. Fertilizer returned to agriculture. Glycerin and phytosterols sold to cosmetics, pharma, and food industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Verbio SE operates large-scale biorefineries that convert agricultural raw materials and residues into climate-friendly biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane as BioCNG/BioLNG), bio-based specialty chemicals (9-DAME, 1-decene via ethenolysis), and co-products (pharmaceutical glycerin, phytosterols, animal feed, fertilizer). The company sells products directly to industrial customers, operates 25 company-owned refueling stations across Germany, and runs an in-house logistics fleet of approximately 150 CNG/LNG trucks powered by its own biofuels.

Product overview

Verbio SE operates as a biorefinery company producing climate-friendly fuels, green energy, and bio-based chemicals from agricultural raw materials and residues. The core product portfolio spans three main segments: Mobility (Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Biomethane/BioCNG/BioLNG) produced at biorefineries in Europe, Asia, and North America; Specialty Chemicals (Verbio Life Chemicals brand) including 9-DAME, 1-decene via ethenolysis technology, and XiMo metathesis catalysts; and By-products (pharmaceutical glycerin, phytosterols, distiller's grain, plant proteins, fertilizer) for animal feed, food, cosmetics, pharma, and agriculture industries. The company operates production sites in Germany (Zörbig, Schwedt, Bitterfeld), USA (Nevada, Iowa), India, and Hungary, supported by 25 company-owned BioCNG/BioLNG fueling stations and an in-house logistics fleet of 150 trucks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Verbio Life Chemicals: Bio-based specialty chemicals division producing renewable molecules for the chemical industry including 9-DAME and 1-decene for detergents, lubricants, and polymers
• Strohklug / Strawclever
• XiMo

Products and services

• Biodiesel Climate-friendly biofuel produced from regionally sourced rapeseed oil at biorefineries in Europe, Asia, and North America. Particularly energy-efficient and environmentally friendly production process at the Schwedt site. Sold to fuel distributors and industrial customers.
• Bioethanol Biofuel produced from agricultural raw materials and residues. Verbio operates combined bioethanol-biomethane production plants, including facilities in Schwedt, Zörbig, and Nevada, USA. Sold to fuel distributors and industrial customers.
• Biomethane (BioCNG/BioLNG) Renewable biomethane produced from agricultural residues including straw. Available as BioCNG and BioLNG for trucking and logistics fleets. Supplied through Verbio's network of 25 company-owned fueling stations across Germany.
• 9-DAME (Methyl 9-decenoate) Bio-based specialty chemical produced via ethenolysis from rapeseed oil methyl ester. Component of detergents and cleaning agents, serving as raw material for lubricants and polymers. Sold to chemical industry customers.
• 1-Decene Bio-based specialty chemical produced via ethenolysis. Important basis for high-performance lubricants used in modern engines, gearboxes, and wind turbines. Sold to chemical industry customers.
• XiMo Metathesis Catalysts Molybdenum-, tungsten-, and ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts developed by XiMo, Verbio's wholly-owned subsidiary. Enables conversion of renewable vegetable oils into high-value organic compounds. Nobel Prize-winning technology (Richard Schrock, 2005).
• Glycerin (Pharmaceutical Grade) High-quality glycerin generated as a co-product during biodiesel production. Used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries for skincare products and body care formulations.
• Phytosterols
• Distiller's Grain (Animal Feed) Distiller's grain produced during bioethanol production, used as animal feed in livestock farming. Contains protein-rich mash that supports both domestic and farm animal nutrition as well as aquaculture.
• Plant-based Proteins
• Fertilizer Plant-based fertilizers recovered during biogas production and returned to agriculture in closed-loop systems, enhancing sustainability of Verbio's biorefinery operations.
• BioCNG/BioLNG Fueling Station Network Network of 25 Verbio-owned fueling stations across Germany providing climate-friendly biomethane for freight forwarders, logistics companies, and companies with their own truck fleets. Saves up to 100% CO2 compared to conventional diesel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100% CO2 savings compared to conventional diesel operation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 minor and core.

• TransgourmetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership to develop BioCNG fueling infrastructure for climate-friendly logistics. Second joint project with Transgourmet, establishing BioCNG station at Nikola-Tesla-Straße 8, 64560 Riedstadt in Rhein-Main area. Verbio provides BioCNG fuel supply for Transgourmet's logistics fleet.
• Nippon GasesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CO2 utilization partnership at Verbio Zörbig site. Nippon Gases refines CO2 from Verbio bioethanol production for use in food industry and healthcare sector. Both partners intend to pursue similar project at Schwedt/Oder site.
• XiMo (Verbio subsidiary)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 November 2024Wholly-owned Verbio subsidiary developing and producing metathesis catalysts. XiMo Kft constructing EUR 27.7 million catalyst production facility in Hungary. Technology based on Nobel Prize-winning olefin metathesis research by Prof. Richard Schrock.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Neste: Global leader in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from waste and residue feedstocks. Directly comparable to Verbio in advanced biofuel production, share-of-quota revenue sensitivity, and integrated biorefinery economics, though Neste is significantly larger and more internationally diversified.
• CropEnergies: European bioethanol producer with German operations (Mannheim, Zeitz, Wanze) and a similarly biomass-feedstock-driven model. Closest like-for-like European peer for Verbio's bioethanol and DDGS/by-product co-product economics.
• UPM Biofuels: Produces advanced renewable diesel and naphtha from wood-based crude tall oil. Highly comparable to Verbio in residue-based advanced biofuel positioning, low-carbon feedstock strategy, and reliance on regulatory recognition of advanced biofuels under RED II/III.

Broad incumbents

• Shell: Global integrated energy company investing heavily in biofuels (RotaJet, SAF partnerships) and biomethane for transport. Comparable through its renewable fuels portfolio and quota-market participation, though renewable fuels are a small share of overall Shell.
• ADM: Global agribusiness and grain trader with a sizable biofuels and origination platform. Comparable to Verbio through biomass procurement scale, biofuel production exposure, and DDGS/feed by-product economics, though biofuels are part of a much broader agricultural value chain.
• Cargill: Privately-held global agribusiness with grain origination and bioindustrial activities including biodiesel and renewable feedstocks. Adjacent peer through feedstock procurement scale and bio-based chemical adjacencies.
• Repsol: Integrated energy company with renewable fuels refineries in Spain producing renewable diesel and SAF from waste oils. Overlaps with Verbio in advanced biofuels production and renewable diesel/specialty feedstock positioning.
• TotalEnergies: Integrated oil major with a meaningful biofuels and biogas segment (including biogas acquisitions in Europe). Operates broadly in the same renewable fuels space but as part of a much larger oil & gas portfolio, making it a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with extensive renewable feedstock and bio-based specialty chemical programs. Relevant comparable for Verbio Life Chemicals' ethenolysis products (9-DAME, 1-decene) entering the same detergents, lubricants, and polymers end markets.

Emerging players

• Sunfire: German-based technology company developing power-to-liquids (e-fuels) and electrolysis. Comparable to Verbio in the renewable fuels/chemicals innovation theme from a German industrial base, but competes via synthetic e-fuels rather than biomass conversion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VerbioSE
• Facebookfacebook.com/verbioag
• TikToktiktok.com/@arbeiten.fuers.klima
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/verbioag

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VERBIO