The Top Chemical Companies in the UK
The UK’s top chemical companies are the cornerstone of the country’s economy. It plays a vital role in manufacturing, innovation, and exports. Thus, these top chemical companies in the UK contribute significantly to the UK’s GDP. Also, they support a broad range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and consumer goods.
The Top Chemical Companies in the UK
The top chemical companies in the UK are global leaders recognized for their products. These products include industrial gases, specialty chemicals, polymers, and sustainable technologies.
Linde Plc
- Founding Date: 1879
- Head Office: Guildford, Surrey
- Global Presence: more than 80 countries.
- Key Products & Services:
- Industrial Gases: Oxygen, Nitrogen, Argon, Hydrogen, and Carbon dioxide.
- Specialty Gases: Rare gases and high purity gases.
- Healthcare Gases: Medical Oxygen, inhaled nitric oxide, and therapeutic gases.
- Engineering: Design and construction of industrial gas plant, hydrogen facilities and air separation units.
Linde plc is the top chemical company in the UK. They produce and supply a wide range of gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, helium, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, to various industries. Also, they design and build industrial gas production plants and other large-scale industrial facilities. In 2018, Linde AG merged with Praxair, Inc. to form Linde plc, creating the largest industrial gases company in the world. As the world’s largest supplier of industrial gases, these gases are essential for a wide range of industries, including:
- Healthcare (oxygen, medical air)
- Manufacturing (welding gases, cutting gases)
- Food & Beverage (carbon dioxide for carbonation, nitrogen for preservation)
- Electronics (specialty gases for semiconductor production)
- Energy (hydrogen for clean fuels)
Croda International
- Founding Date: 1925
- Head Office: Cowick Hall, Snaith, East Yorkshire
- Global Presence:
- 92 locations across the world in 39 countries across Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East.
- Major production plants are located in the UK, the US, Brazil, India, and Singapore.
- Key Products & Services:
- Personal Care: Ingredients for skincare, haircare, and cosmetic products
- Home Care: Chemicals for laundry detergents, cleaning products, and other household items
- Life Sciences: Products for pharmaceuticals, animal health, and nutrition
- Industrial Specialties: Additives and ingredients for coatings, polymers, and other industrial applications
Croda International is a leading chemical company in the UK. They specialize in creating solutions for various industries, including consumer care, life sciences, and industrial specialties. Their expertise spans beauty care, personal care, home care, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, agriculture, and various industrial applications. The company bought Avanti Polar Lipids (2020) and Alban Muller International (2021) to enhance its life sciences and natural product offerings.
Johnson Matthey
- Founding Date: 1817
- Head Office: London, England
- Global Presence:
- Operates in over 30 countries, with a network of manufacturing facilities, research centers, and commercial offices.
- 43 major manufacturing sites all around the globe, Argentina to North Macedonia, the USA, and China.
- Key Products & Services:
- Clean Air: Supplies catalyst & technologies for reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. Market leader in technologies for gasoline and diesel emissions control.
- Catalyst Technologies: Catalysts for various industrial processes, including chemical production and refining.
- Hydrogen Technologies: Technologies for producing, storing, and utilizing hydrogen as a clean energy source.
- Platinum Group Metals Services: Sourcing, refining, and recycling precious metals.
Johnson Matthey is a global leader in sustainable technologies, focusing on transforming energy and reducing carbon emissions. As one of the UK’s top chemical companies, it provides clients advanced metals chemistry and technology solutions.
Victrex
- Founding Date: 1993
- Head Office: Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire
- Global Presence:
- Global, with a strong presence in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
- Key Products & Services: Polyaryletherketone (PAEK), VICTREX™ PEEK, and related products
- PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
- PAEK (Polyaryletherketones)
Victrex plc is a global manufacturer of high-performance polymer solutions, specializing in advanced thermoplastics. Established in 1993. Victrex develops and manufactures high-performance polymers, primarily based on PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) and PAEK (Polyaryletherketones). Because of its unique properties, PEEK is used in a wide range of industries:
- Aerospace: Used in aircraft components to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.
- Automotive: Replaces metal parts in cars, making them lighter and more fuel-efficient.
- Electronics: Used in smartphones and other electronic devices.
- Energy: Used in oil and gas exploration and production.
- Medical: Used in medical implants and devices.
Elementis
- Founding Date: 1844
- Head Office: London, England
- Global Presence:
- Operates in over 20 countries, with manufacturing plants and research facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia.
- Key Products & Services: Specialty chemicals, including surfactants, rheology modifiers, and personal care ingredients, with a focus on high-performance materials and solutions.
- Personal Care: Ingredients for skincare, haircare, and cosmetics, including emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, and specialty surfactants.
- Coatings & Construction: Supplies performance additives, pigments, and binders to improve the durability, color, and texture of coatings.
- Polymers & Performance Materials: Develops specialized materials for industrial applications such as adhesives, lubricants, and sealants.
- Other Markets: Elementis also serves industries such as agriculture, consumer goods, and automotive.
Elementis plc is a specialty chemicals company in the UK that develops and supplies innovative products for a range of industries, including personal care, coatings, and pharmaceuticals.
Synthomer
- Founding Date: 1863
- Head Office: London, England
- Global Presence:
- Operates across multiple regions, including Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Key Products & Services: Emulsion polymers used in the production of paints, coatings, adhesives, textiles, and more.
- Latex: Used in paints, adhesives, and other applications.
- Dispersions: Employed in coatings, construction materials, and adhesives.
- Resins: Utilized in various applications like paints, inks, and adhesives
Synthomer is a global leader in producing specialty chemicals and synthetic latex in the UK. The company primarily serves construction, automotive, adhesives, and paints. Synthomer manufactures a wide range of products, including synthetic rubber, emulsions, and latex polymers. The company has grown through several strategic acquisitions, including its purchase of Omnova Solutions in 2020, expanding its capabilities in adhesives, coatings, and specialty materials. Synthomer serves a diverse range of markets, including:
- Coatings: for paints, inks, and other coatings to improve their properties
- Construction: Additives for concrete, adhesives, and sealants used in building and infrastructure projects.
- Adhesives: various types of adhesives used in packaging, labeling, and other applications.
- Healthcare: medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and other healthcare products.
- Textiles: improving the properties of fabrics and textiles.
- Paper: coating and treating paper products.
Essentra
- Founding Date: 1955
- Head Office: Milton Keynes
- Global Presence:
- Operates in 28 countries worldwide with 14 manufacturing facilities, 24 distribution centers, and 33 sales & service centers across North America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets.
- Key Products & Services: Plastic and fiber products, including protective caps and plugs, access hardware, cable management, plastic fasteners, electronics hardware, other hardware, security seals and others.
- Plastic injection molded components: These include a vast array of parts like caps, plugs, grips, knobs, and other functional plastic components.
- Vinyl dip molded components: These are protective coverings and grips often used for tools, handles, and electrical connections.
- Metal items: This includes metal fasteners, fixings, and other small metal parts.
Essentra plc is a leading chemical company in the UK. It is a global provider of essential components and solutions, offering products across various industries, including healthcare, packaging, and filtration. The company manufactures various products, such as plastic components, filters, packaging, and labels. Essentra serves a diverse range of industries, including:
- Equipment Manufacturing: Components for industrial machinery and equipment.
- Automotive: Parts for vehicles and automotive systems.
- Electronics: Components for electronic devices and equipment.
- Medical: Parts for medical devices and healthcare products.
- Renewable Energy: Components for renewable energy systems.
Treatt
- Founding Date: 1947
- Head Office: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
- Global Presence:
- Treatt operates across several regions, with manufacturing and distribution facilities in the UK, the US, and Kenya, as well as a global network of customers.
- Key Products & Services:
- Flavors and Fragrances: Produces a wide range of natural ingredients, including essential citrus oils, tea, coffee, fruits & vegetable extracts, and distillates, which are used in flavors and fragrances for food, beverages, and consumer goods.
- Beverages: The company is known for its expertise in creating flavors and extracts for soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and health drinks.
- Health and Wellness: Produces natural ingredients for health and wellness products, including dietary supplements and functional foods.
Zotefoams
- Founding Date: 1921
- Head Office: London
- Global Presence:
- Zotefoams has a significant presence globally, with manufacturing facilities in the UK, Poland,and the US, as well as a network of customers across Europe, North America, and Asia.
- Key Products & Services: Azote, Zotek, Plastazote, & Evazote
- Polyolefin Foams: Leading producer of high-performance foams made from polyethylene and polypropylene.
- Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX): Produces cross-linked polyethylene foams, which are used for thermal and acoustic insulation, packaging, and cushioning.
- Medical and Industrial Products: Manufactures products for the medical sector, such as wound care and surgical applications, as well as for industrial applications like noise reduction and safety equipment.
BP Chemicals
- Head Office: London
- Global Presence:
- BP Chemicals operates globally, with manufacturing facilities, joint ventures, and partnerships in several regions, including North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Key Products & Services:
- Polyolefins: BP is known for producing polyethylene and polypropylene, which are used in various industries like packaging, automotive, and healthcare.
- Aromatics: BP Chemicals produces key aromatic chemicals like benzene, toluene, and xylene, which serve as raw materials for many products in industries like plastics, resins, and solvents.
- Acetyls: BP Chemicals manufactures acetyl products, which are key intermediates used in the production of plasticizers, solvents, and other specialty chemicals.
- Advanced Materials: The division also produces performance chemicals used in coatings, adhesives, and other materials for the automotive and consumer goods industries.
INEOS UK
- Founding Date: 1998
- Head Office: London
- Global Presence:
- INEOS operates in over 30 countries with more than 180 sites worldwide. Its manufacturing facilities are located across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Key Products & Services:
- Petrochemicals: Produces a wide variety of petrochemicals, including ethylene, propylene, styrene, and benzene, which serve as key raw materials for a broad range of industries such as automotive, packaging, and electronics.
- Polymers: Major supplier of polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC. These materials are used in applications ranging from packaging and textiles to construction and automotive parts.
- Specialty Chemicals: Produces specialty chemicals used in diverse industries like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and paints and coatings. These products include solvents, plasticizers, and additives.
- Composites: Manufactures advanced materials for aerospace, automotive, and other high-performance applications, including carbon fibers and resins.
INEOS UK is part of INEOS Group is a top chemical company operating in the UK. It is a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, polymers, and specialty chemicals, supplying a wide range of industries including agriculture, healthcare, construction, and consumer goods.
Iofina Plc
- Founding Date: 2005
- Head Office: London
- Key Products & Services: Iodine and iodine derivatives & Non-iodine specialty chemicals.
- Iodine Extraction: Iofina utilizes its proprietary Wellhead Extraction Technology (WET) and IOsorb® plants to extract iodine from brine water produced in oil and gas fields.
- Chemical Manufacturing: Iofina Chemical makes a wide range of specialty chemicals, including iodine derivatives, for various industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and electronics.
Iofina plc is a UK based company specializing in the exploration, production, and manufacturing of iodine and iodine derivatives and other specialty chemicals. The company is a leader in the global iodine market and operates through its subsidiaries, Iofina Resources and Iofina Chemical. Iofina Resources focuses on iodine extraction using the company’s Wellhead Extraction Technology (WET) IOsorb® technology. At the same time, Iofina Chemical makes various specialty chemical products.
RHI Magnesita
- Founding Date: 1908
- Head Office: Wickersley
- Global Presence:
- Operates in over 40 countries with more than 67 production sites worldwide. Its manufacturing facilities are located across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Key Products & Services: Iodine and iodine derivatives & Non-iodine specialty chemicals.
- Refractory Products: Manufacture a wide range of refractory materials, including: Bricks, Monolithics (castables, ramming mixes, gunning mixes), Shaped products (special shapes, precast components), and Raw materials (magnesite, chromite, dolomite).
- Refractory Systems: Design and engineer complete refractory lining systems for various industrial applications.
- Refractory Services: Provide a comprehensive range of services, including: Installation & maintenance, engineering & consulting, and training & technical support
RHI is a top chemical company in the UK. It is a global leader in producing and supplying high-grade refractory products, systems, and services for high-temperature industrial processes. It operates in industries such as:
- Steel: A significant focus is supplying refractories for blast furnaces, steelmaking furnaces, and continuous casting.
- Cement: Provides refractory solutions for rotary kilns, preheaters, and coolers.
- Glass: Offers refractories for glass melting furnaces, including tank blocks and regenerators.
- Energy: Supplies refractories for power plants, including boilers and waste-to-energy facilities.
- Non-ferrous Metals: Provides refractories for producing aluminum, copper, and other non-ferrous metals.
Other notable chemical companies in the UK include:
- A H Marks and Company Limited: A manufacturer of specialty chemicals.
