PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1925761
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1925761
Chemical distribution refers to a diverse business that caters to a range of industries, providing solutions in the form of both specialty and commodity chemicals. Key sectors involved in chemical distribution include agriculture, cosmetics, food and feed, pharmaceuticals, construction, and paints and coatings. The activities within chemical distribution encompass packaging, logistics, warehousing, mixing, blending, formulating, technical assistance, training, recycling, research & development, innovation, and ingredient supply.
The primary types of chemical distribution are specialty chemicals and commodity chemicals. Specialty chemicals are compounds designed for specific purposes or performances, finding applications in various sectors such as agriculture, construction, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing, food additives, coatings, paper trade, and transportation. Chemical distribution employs various transportation methods, including pipelines, containers, barrels, and sacks, serving end-users in sectors like construction, agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and industrial manufacturing.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
Tariffs are impacting the chemical distribution market by increasing costs of imported specialty chemicals, bulk commodities, packaging materials, and cross-border logistics services. Distributors in North America and Europe are most affected due to high import dependency, while Asia-Pacific faces margin pressure in export-oriented chemical trade. These tariffs are increasing pricing volatility and operational complexity. However, they are also driving regional sourcing strategies, localized warehousing expansion, and greater emphasis on value-added distribution services.
The chemical distribution market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides chemical distribution market statistics, including chemical distribution industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a chemical distribution market share, detailed chemical distribution market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the chemical distribution industry. This chemical distribution market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The chemical distribution market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $323.54 billion in 2025 to $355.16 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of industrial chemical consumption, growth of manufacturing industries, increasing outsourcing of chemical logistics, rising demand for specialty chemicals, availability of global distribution networks.
The chemical distribution market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $503.11 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in digital logistics systems, rising demand for specialty chemical solutions, expansion of sustainable sourcing practices, growing focus on supply chain transparency, increasing regulatory oversight. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of value-added distribution services, rising use of digital supply chain platforms, growing demand for customized chemical blends, expansion of sustainable chemical distribution practices, enhanced focus on regulatory compliance.
The growing construction industry is driving the growth of the chemical distribution market. The construction sector, which includes the planning, design, development, and execution of buildings and infrastructure projects, relies heavily on chemicals such as concrete admixtures, bonding agents, sealants, and coatings for structural integrity and aesthetic applications. For instance, in July 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of dwellings under construction in the March quarter of 2023 rose by 1.3%, reaching 240,813 units, surpassing the previous record of 240,065 units in March 2022. Therefore, the expansion of the construction industry is boosting demand for chemical distribution.
Major companies in the chemical distribution market are focusing on technological advancements, such as carbon-negative renewables, to enhance sustainable chemical production and reduce carbon footprints. Carbon-negative renewables are energy sources or technologies that remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than they emit. For instance, in October 2023, Perstorp Group, a Sweden-based specialty chemicals company, launched a new grade of 2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) with 100% renewable, traceable, mass-balanced carbon content. By incorporating biogenic CO2 from renewable raw materials, 2-EH Pro 100 achieves a negative carbon footprint across the value chain while promoting sustainable sourcing of renewable and recycled feedstocks.
In August 2023, Apollo Global Management Inc., a US-based private equity firm, acquired Univar Solutions for $8.1 billion. Through this acquisition, Apollo aims to strengthen its investments and collaborate with Univar's team to expand global distribution capabilities and better serve suppliers and customers. Univar Solutions Inc. is a US-based chemical distributor providing a wide range of chemical products and solutions to industrial and commercial clients worldwide.
Major companies operating in the chemical distribution market are Univar Solutions Inc., HELM AG, Brenntag AG, Azelis Holdings, Biesterfeld AG, Safic-Alcan SAS, Stockmeier Holding GmbH, REDA Chemicals Holding S.A., Jebsen & Jessen (SEA) Pte Ltd, Quimidroga S.A., Solvadis Deutschland GmbH, TER HELL & Co. GmbH, IMCD Group, Nexeo Solution Holding, ICC Chemicals, Global Chemical Resources, Parchem Fine & Specialty Chemicals, KPL International Limited, KODA Distribution Group, Nordmann Rassmann GmbH, HORN Company, KISCO Ltd, Fitz Chem LLC, Charkit Chemical Company LLC
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the chemical distribution market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the chemical distribution market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa
The countries covered in the chemical distribution market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain
The chemical distribution market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing fine chemicals, bulk chemicals and specialty chemicals. Values in this market are 'factory gate' values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Chemical Distribution Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses chemical distribution market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for chemical distribution ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The chemical distribution market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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