Trichem

What Trichem does

Trichem is a privately held Brazilian importer and distributor of industrial chemical raw materials, headquartered in Barueri (São Paulo metropolitan area) and operating since approximately 2010. The company sources chemical products from 400 registered suppliers across five continents and distributes them to Brazilian industrial customers through four warehouse sites in São Paulo state and Santa Catarina, with two of the Santa Catarina facilities positioned near major port complexes for import efficiency. Its core commercial franchise is the exclusive Brazilian import and distribution rights for SINOMA High Alumina Spheres — a Chinese state-owned manufacturer — alongside preferred-supplier positions with major Titanium Dioxide and Borate producers serving the ceramic industry.

Trichem serves six industrial verticals: ceramics and mining, metallurgy (notably aluminum foundries), food industry, water treatment and pools, agricultural fertilizers, and general industrial chemicals/domsanitários. The product portfolio spans more than 40 listed SKUs, including acids (citric, phosphoric, sorbic, ascorbic, boric), alkalis (caustic soda, caustic potash, soda ash), salts (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, potassium chloride, sodium cyclamate), polyurethane inputs (polyols, TDI, MDEA), water-treatment oxidizers (TCCA, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, calcium hypochlorite), and a fertilizer line (urea, MAP, ammonium sulfate) operated under Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture licensing. The ceramic segment alone accounts for 60 disclosed customers out of a total customer base of 448.

The business model is B2B sales-led: Trichem generates revenue through the spread between international procurement costs and domestic selling prices, plus logistics and storage service fees. Pricing is quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and varies by volume tier (less than 1 ton, 1-5 tons, more than 5 tons). Distribution channels include direct shipment from warehouses and a differentiated customer-site storage program where inventory is placed at the buyer's facility with consumption-based payment. Trichem holds no proprietary technology, patents, or AI/ML capabilities — its competitive position is built on supplier exclusivity (SINOMA), port-adjacent warehousing, regulatory licensing (Ministry of Agriculture), and a commercial team with more than 20 years of chemical-sector experience. The company has no disclosed funding events, no parent entity, and no public ownership information.

Name

Trichem

Legal name

Trichem

Website

https://trichem.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trichem is a privately held Brazilian importer and distributor of industrial chemical raw materials, sourcing from 400 suppliers across five continents and serving 448 customers in ceramics, metallurgy, food, water treatment, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals through port-adjacent warehouses in São Paulo and Santa Catarina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Import/Export & Cross-Border Food Commodity Trading (AFAIAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bulk Ingredient Logistics, Storage & Transloading (Food Commodities) (AFAIAKAM), Commodity Organic Chemicals (Solvents & Intermediates) (IMAEAAAB)

Keywords

• Industrial chemical imports
• Chemical distribution services
• Ceramic raw materials
• Fertilizer import distribution
• Metallurgical salt mixtures

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Chemical Import and Distribution: Trichem generates revenue by importing chemical products from international manufacturers and distributing them to Brazilian industries. The company purchases products from suppliers on five continents and sells to customers in various industrial sectors. Revenue comes from the margin between import costs and domestic sales prices, as well as logistics and storage services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Trichem imports industrial chemical raw materials from manufacturers on five continents and distributes them to Brazilian industrial customers. The company handles the full import-to-customer pipeline, including supplier sourcing, customs nationalization, quality verification through accredited laboratories, warehousing, and direct delivery. Its portfolio covers ceramic raw materials (high-alumina grinding media, titanium dioxide, borates), fertilizers, metallurgical salts, food-grade acids and preservatives, water treatment chemicals, and general industrial chemicals.

Product overview

Trichem is a specialized importer and distributor of industrial chemical products operating across multiple segments: ceramics, industrial chemicals, metallurgy, food industry, water/pool treatment, and fertilizers. The core product portfolio centers on SINOMA High Alumina Spheres (exclusive Brazil partnership) and titanium dioxide, complemented by an extensive range of industrial chemicals including acids (citric, phosphoric, sorbic, ascorbic), salts (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium cyclamate), amines (MEA, DEA), alkalis (caustic potash, caustic soda, soda ash), and specialty products (polyols, TDI, methylene chloride). The company also distributes fertilizers (urea, ammonium sulfate, MAP) for agriculture and sugar mills under Ministry of Agriculture license. Products are available as nationalized stock or custom import orders, with strategically located warehouses in Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SINOMA High Alumina Spheres (92% Al2O3 grinding balls) High-alumina grinding media (92% Al2O3) manufactured by Chinese state-owned SINOMA, available in 20/25/30/40/50/60mm sizes, used in ceramic and mining mills to reduce grinding hours and energy consumption. Exclusive Brazilian supplier partnership.
• Titanium Dioxide (Rutile and Anatase grades) TiO2 pigments in Rutile and Anatase grades for ceramics, paints, plastics, and cosmetics, providing high opacity, brightness, and UV protection. Sourced through partnerships with major international manufacturers.
• Borates (Boric Acid, Colemanite, Ulexite) Boron compounds including Boric Acid (H3BO3), Colemanite, and Ulexite, used in ceramics to reduce melting point and improve chemical resistance, hardness, and gloss. Also used in metallurgy, pesticides, and soil correction.
• Metallurgical Salt Mixtures (for aluminum casting) Customized salt mixtures and tablets for aluminum foundries, including Cryolite, Manganese Tablets 85%, Altib 5/1 grain refiner, and Tial 10, plus potassium chloride and sodium chloride for metallurgical use.
• Fertilizers (MAP, Potassium Chloride, Ammonium Sulfate, Urea) Agricultural fertilizers including Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP 12-52), Potassium Chloride, Ammonium Sulfate, Urea (46% N), and sugar mill chemicals (phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, sulfur). Licensed by Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture. Available in bulk, big bag, and 25 kg bags.
• Food-grade Acids and Preservatives Food-grade chemicals including Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Citric Acid, 85% Phosphoric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Cyclamate, Potassium Sorbate, and Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP), serving as preservatives, acidulants, antioxidants, flavor enhancers, and stabilizers for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics applications.
• Water Treatment and Pool Chemicals Water treatment and pool chemicals including Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (50 kg drums), Trichloroisocyanuric Acid/TCCA (25 kg bags), Calcium Hypochlorite 65% (45 kg drums), and Sodium Carbonate/Soda Ash (25 kg bags), used for purification, sterilization, algae control, and pH adjustment.
• Industrial Chemicals (alkalis, surfactants, polyols, isocyanates, solvents) Wide range of industrial chemicals including Caustic Soda (NaOH), Caustic Potash (KOH), Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate 70% (Lauril 70%), Soda Ash, Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA), Polyester Polyol 3000, Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI), Methylene Chloride, and other specialty chemicals for cleaning products, paints, polyurethane, cosmetics, and petroleum extraction.
• Chemical Import and Storage Services Integrated supply chain services including international supplier sourcing, customs nationalization, accredited-laboratory quality control, multi-port warehousing in São Paulo and Santa Catarina states, and customer-site storage programs with payment based on consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significant reduction in grinding hours through use of High Alumina Spheres
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship/exclusive, core and supporting.

• SINOMA (China National Materials Group Corporation)flagship/exclusiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive Brazilian partnership for High Alumina Spheres import and distribution. SINOMA is a Chinese state-owned enterprise with its own research center and government support. Their product is recognized, approved, and homologated by major Brazilian ceramic industries. Trichem offers customized solutions from import to application, with technical consultation for optimal usage.
• Titanium Dioxide ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with major manufacturers of Titanium Dioxide (Rutile and Anatase grades), ensuring quality standards, performance, and supply security for ceramic and industrial customers.
• Borate ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped partnerships with leading borate manufacturers to import products meeting major quality requirements of ceramic industries, offering best cost-benefit in the market.
• International Chemical Suppliers (Five Continents)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroad network of partnerships with chemical manufacturers across five continents. Annual presence in international markets, particularly China, to strengthen and build credibility with manufacturers.
• Ministry of Agriculture (Brazil)coreOthersLicensed operator for fertilizer imports and distribution in Brazil, meeting regulatory requirements for agricultural chemical products.
• Accredited LaboratoriessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with accredited laboratories for quality control of imported products, ensuring products meet required specifications and delivering safety to customers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brenntag: Global market leader in chemical distribution with established operations across Brazil. Comparable as a multi-vertical industrial chemicals importer/distributor serving ceramics, food, water treatment, and metallurgical end markets; competes on similar product categories though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Azelis: Specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor operating across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Comparable in the exclusive partnerships model with leading manufacturers, and overlaps with Trichem in food ingredients, industrial chemicals, and personal care product distribution.
• IMCD: Global specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor with strong Latin American presence. Comparable in the specialty distribution model — partnering with leading manufacturers to bring formulations and ingredients to industrial customers in similar verticals as Trichem (coatings, food, personal care, ceramics).
• Univar Solutions: Major North American-headquartered chemical distributor with operations in Brazil. Comparable across the same industrial and specialty chemical product lines, serving overlapping end markets including food ingredients, water treatment, and industrial chemicals.

Others

• Biesterfeld: Hamburg-headquartered specialty chemicals distributor with global distribution network. Comparable in the exclusive manufacturer partnership model and product categories overlapping with Trichem's industrial chemicals and specialty additives portfolio.
• TER Group: German-headquartered specialty chemical distribution company serving industrial customers globally. Comparable as a specialty chemical importer/distributor with manufacturer partnerships, supplying similar product categories (acids, alkalis, food additives, water treatment chemicals) to industrial end users.
• Helm AG: Hamburg-based family-owned chemical marketing and distribution company operating globally. Comparable in cross-border chemical trading, fertilizer distribution, and agricultural inputs — overlapping with Trichem's fertilizer and agricultural chemical business segments.

Emerging players

• Manuchar: Global chemical distribution platform headquartered in Belgium with significant Latin American operations including Brazil. Comparable cross-border chemical trading model, serving industrial customers with imported inputs across similar verticals.

Regional players

• Quimidroga: Spanish chemical distributor with operations across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Comparable product mix across industrial chemicals, food ingredients, and fertilizers; serves similar industrial verticals though primarily outside Brazil.

Direct peers

• ICC Chemical: Specialty chemical importer and distributor with established operations in Latin America including Brazil. Comparable as a focused industrial chemicals trader sourcing internationally and supplying similar product categories (acids, alkalis, solvents, food-grade ingredients) to Brazilian industrial buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/trichemimportadora
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trichemimportadora

Compliance1 record

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 Trichem