FECC-BCG Pan-European Chemical Distribution Pulse Check
The new FECC–BCG pan‑European pulse check provides a data-based snapshot of market sentiment, priorities, and challenges facing European chemical distributors in the current economic and regulatory environment.
The European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have released their first joint pan‑European “pulse check” on the chemical distribution sector, providing a new data-based snapshot of current market conditions and expectations among distributors across the region. The study, conducted with 170 European chemical distributors during the summer of 2025, is positioned as a tool to better understand how companies are navigating a period of macroeconomic uncertainty, changing customer needs, and ongoing regulatory and sustainability pressures.
The publication comes at a time when chemical distributors in Europe are reassessing their role in the value chain, including the balance between commodity and specialty portfolios, service offerings, and digital capabilities. The report is an important resource for companies and policymakers seeking to benchmark their own assessments against a consolidated view of market developments and strategic responses. Interested stakeholders can access the pulse check below as part of the FECC’s ongoing efforts to provide market intelligence for the European chemical distribution community.
FECC-BCG Pulse Check
Read the Whitepaper here!While sentiment varied across countries, one overarching theme emerged: uncertainty continues to define the industry, driven by persistent margin pressure despite broadly stabilizing sales performance over the past 12 months. Margin erosion was primarily attributed to cost inflation, delayed price pass-through, and intensified competition. At the same time, projected growth rates underscored the increasingly strategic role distributors play in securing chemical supply flows - elevating supply chain resilience, adaptability, and cost efficiency to critical success factors. Against this backdrop, distributors can strengthen long-term partnerships with both principals and customers by expanding value-added capabilities and systematically improving cost-to-serve performance.
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