H&R Group
H&R Group is a Hamburg-based German specialty chemicals refiner (founded 1919) that produces 800+ crude-oil-derived products — white oils, paraffins, plasticizers, process oils, and lubricants — sold across more than 100 industries and approximately 50 global locations, with the Chemical-Pharmaceutical division representing 96% of Group sales.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What H&R Group does
H&R Group (legal entity H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA) is a Hamburg-headquartered, publicly listed German specialty chemicals producer founded in 1919 by the Hansen family. The company refines crude oil derivatives into more than 800 specialty products spanning petroleum jellies, white oils, paraffins, plasticizers, process oils, cable fillers, wax emulsions, and lubricants, which it sells into more than 100 industries including pharmaceutical and cosmetics, tire and rubber, cable and wire, mineral oil trade, construction, and automotive/medical plastics. The Chemical-Pharmaceutical division accounts for 96% of Group sales, while a smaller Plastics division produces high-precision plastic parts and molds for automotive suppliers and medical technology. Two main refineries — Salzbergen and Hamburg-Neuhof — anchor European production, complemented by production in China (Ningbo, Daxie, Fushun), the Netherlands (Nuth), and the UK (Tipton), with sales offices spanning North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Oceania (approximately 50 global locations and ~2,000 employees).
The business model is a horizontal B2B industrial enterprise field-sales motion, organized by product category and region, with no public pricing model and standard volume/specification/contract-based quoting. Distribution runs through direct sales from Hamburg headquarters, the SRS Schmierstoffe brand in DACH for lubricants, and a network of regional sales offices. Revenue is concentrated in commodity-linked base oils and specialty oils where margins are sensitive to crude oil cycles; Q2 2026 outperformance was attributed to temporary demand elevation from Persian Gulf geopolitical disruption and Strait of Hormuz supply constraints, supporting an FY 2026 EBITDA target of EUR 85 million. The Hansen family controls 77.54% of shares following an August 2025 voluntary takeover offer at EUR 5.00 per share, with the company simultaneously transitioning from the Prime Standard to the Scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, indicating a defensive corporate posture. Notable strategic activity includes a November 2025 partnership with Novvi, LLC to develop sustainable personal care emollient alternatives.
H&R Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- H&R Group
- Legal name
- H&R GmbH & Co. KGaA
- Website
- https://hur.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- H&R Group is a Hamburg-based German specialty chemicals refiner (founded 1919) that produces 800+ crude-oil-derived products — white oils, paraffins, plasticizers, process oils, and lubricants — sold across more than 100 industries and approximately 50 global locations, with the Chemical-Pharmaceutical division representing 96% of Group sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
H&R Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Petroleum Refineries (32411), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259), All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (32599), Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (32419)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Oilfield & Refining Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Base Oil Production & Supply (Group I–V, Re-refined) (EUALAJAA), Lubricants Distribution & Wholesale (Bulk, Packaged, B2B) (EUALAJAE), Aftermarket Fluids, Lubricants & Chemical Products Manufacturing (Oils/Coolants/Additives/Cleaners) (IMACANAK)
Keywords
Where H&R Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices18 records
Markets served
H&R Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Chemical-Pharmaceutical Products: Sales of crude-oil-based specialty products including plasticizers, paraffins, white oils, and base oils. Accounts for 96% of Group sales revenues. Products sold through Hansen & Rosenthal sales partner into more than 100 different sectors.
- Plastics Division Products: Production and sale of high-precision plastic parts and molds for automotive suppliers and medical technology industry. Smaller division with production sites in Eastern Europe and Asia.
- Lubricant Sales (SRS): Sales of motor oils, gear oils, and industrial lubricants through SRS Schmierstoffe Vertrieb GmbH brand
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
H&R Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
H&R Group refines crude oil derivatives at refineries in Hamburg-Neuhof and Salzbergen to produce more than 800 specialty chemical-pharmaceutical products including plasticizers, white oils, paraffins, base oils, process oils, cable filling compounds, wax emulsions and cosmetic/pharmaceutical specialties. The company also produces high-precision plastic parts and molds for automotive suppliers and medical technology customers. Products are sold through direct B2B channels into more than 100 industrial sectors globally, with the Chemical-Pharmaceutical division accounting for 96% of Group sales.
Product overview
H&R Group (Hansen & Rosenthal) is a specialty chemicals company that produces over 800 crude-oil-based chemical-pharmaceutical specialty products. The company operates two main divisions: ChemPharm Refining (accounting for 96% of sales), which includes refineries in Hamburg-Neuhof and Salzbergen producing plasticizers, paraffins, white oils, and base oils; and a smaller Plastics division producing high-precision plastic parts and molds. The product portfolio includes Petroleum Jellies and White Oils for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Specialties, Waxes and Emulsions for industrial uses, Process Oils for tire/rubber/plastics/coatings industries, Cable Fillers for telecommunications and energy cables, Mineral-Oil Trade products including engine and gearbox oils, Construction Industry raw materials, and Plastics for automotive and medical technology. Products are sold through sales partner Hansen & Rosenthal into more than 100 different industry sectors worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vaseline und Weißöle (Petroleum Jellies and White Oils)
Quantifiable outcome
- 800+ innovative, environmentally friendly products from crude oil derivatives
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use H&R Group
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
H&R Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
H&R Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Novvi, LLCminorCollaboration with Novvi, LLC highlighted at In Cosmetics Asia 2025, focusing on cutting-edge potential of silicone and hydrocarbon emollient alternatives in the personal care space. The partnership addresses industry movement towards more sustainable and skin-conscious formulations.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
H&R Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wacker Chemie: German specialty chemicals company producing silicones, polymers, and bio-engineered products. Comparable as a German-listed specialty chemicals peer with overlap in personal care and industrial specialty segments.
- Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals incumbent producing a broad portfolio including additives, coatings, and specialty intermediates. Comparable as a European specialty chemicals competitor with overlapping customer base in industrial and personal care applications.
- LANXESS: German specialty chemicals company with presence in industrial intermediates, additives, and consumer protection. Comparable as a European mid-cap specialty chemicals peer facing similar energy transition and feedstock cost dynamics.
- Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company focused on care chemicals, natural resources, and catalysts. Comparable customer overlap in personal care and industrial specialty markets where H&R's cosmetic and process oils compete.
- BASF: World's largest chemical company with extensive specialty chemicals portfolio including process oils, plasticizers, and base oils. Comparable across multiple H&R end-markets though operating at much greater scale and breadth.
Direct peers
- Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemicals company producing personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial specialty ingredients including white oils and emollients. Direct competitor in the cosmetic/pharmaceutical specialty raw materials segment where H&R's white oils and petroleum jellies compete.
- Sonneborn (Sasol): Sasol's Sonneborn division produces specialty hydrocarbons including white oils, petrolatums, and microcrystalline waxes for personal care and industrial applications. Highly comparable specialty product portfolio to H&R's petroleum jellies and white oils.
- Calumet Specialty Products Partners: US-based producer of specialty hydrocarbon products including white oils, petroleum jellies, and refined specialty oils for personal care, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets. Closely comparable business model to H&R's ChemPharm division, including refining of crude oil derivatives into specialty grades.
Regional players
- Indian Oil Corporation: Indian state-owned integrated refiner producing base oils, lubricants, and specialty petrochemicals for the Asian market. Comparable vertically integrated refining-to-specialty model but primarily serving the Indian/South Asian geography where H&R is establishing sales presence.
- PetroChina: Chinese integrated oil company with specialty chemicals and lubricant production serving primarily the Chinese market. Comparable in product categories (white oils, process oils, lubricants) and geography where H&R operates three production facilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
H&R Group social profiles
Digital presenceH&R Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
H&R Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
H&R Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries25 records
H&R Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
H&R Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about H&R Group
What does H&R Group do?
H&R Group refines crude oil derivatives at refineries in Hamburg-Neuhof and Salzbergen to produce more than 800 specialty chemical-pharmaceutical products including plasticizers, white oils, paraffins, base oils, process oils, cable filling compounds, wax emulsions and cosmetic/pharmaceutical specialties. The company also produces high-precision plastic parts and molds for automotive suppliers and medical technology customers. Products are sold through direct B2B channels into more than 100 industrial sectors globally, with the Chemical-Pharmaceutical division accounting for 96% of Group sales.
Is H&R Group a public or private company?
H&R Group is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was H&R Group founded?
H&R Group was founded in 1919. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is H&R Group based?
H&R Group is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does H&R Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Chemical-Pharmaceutical Products are the primary driver. The others are plastics Division Products and lubricant Sales (SRS).
Who are H&R Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wacker Chemie, Evonik Industries, LANXESS, Clariant and BASF. Direct peers are Croda International, Sonneborn (Sasol) and Calumet Specialty Products Partners. Regional players are Indian Oil Corporation and PetroChina.
Does H&R Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for H&R Group.
What industry is H&R Group in?
H&R Group's product category is Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAI, Oilfield & Refining Specialty Chemicals, with a secondary code of EUALAJAA, Base Oil Production & Supply (Group I–V, Re-refined). Its NAICS code is 32511 and its SIC code is 2890.