The Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid (Glycolic Acid) Market was valued at USD 162.4 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 228.6 million by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during the forecast period (2024-2030). This growth is primarily driven by increasing demand from personal care & cosmetics (53% market share) and industrial cleaning applications (expanding at 6.2% annually), with France commanding a dominant 32% regional market position.

As industries seek sustainable yet effective chemical solutions, hydroxyacetic acid continues to gain prominence across skincare formulations, cleaning products, and pharmaceutical applications. In this analysis, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid Industry, examining how producers and distributors are shaping market dynamics through innovation and strategic positioning.

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🔟 1. Phibro Animal Health Corporation

Headquarters: Teaneck, New Jersey, USA (European Operations in Brussels)
Key Offering: Industrial Grade Hydroxyacetic Acid

Phibro leads Europe’s industrial glycolic acid segment with high-concentration solutions (99% purity) for food processing sanitation and oilfield applications. Their Rotterdam storage hub serves as Northwest Europe’s primary distribution node.

Technology Highlights:

• Proprietary stabilization formulas extend product shelf life by 18-24 months
• Closed-system packaging reduces workplace exposure risks
• Custom formulations for descaling and metal cleaning applications

Download FREE Sample Report: Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid Market – Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. Zhonglan Industry Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shanghai, China (European Distribution in Rotterdam)
Key Offering: Cost-Competitive Industrial Grade

As Asia’s primary glycolic acid exporter to Europe, Zhonglan supplies bulk solutions (70-99% purity) to price-sensitive industrial users. Their European warehousing strategy enables competitive landed costs versus regional producers.

Technology Highlights:

• Advanced crystallization technology maintains product stability during transit
• Dual-certified (ISO 9001 & REACH) manufacturing processes
• Flexible bulk packaging options from drums to isotanks

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8️⃣ 3. CrossChem Ltd.

Headquarters: Godalming, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Technical & Cosmetic Grade Solutions

This UK specialty chemical distributor provides glycolic acid across multiple concentrations (50-70%), serving as a strategic supply chain partner for cosmetic manufacturers needing REACH-compliant ingredients.

Technology Highlights:

• Just-in-time blending services reducing customer inventory costs
• Dedicated regulatory team handling EU compliance documentation
• Bespoke pH adjustment services for formulation clients

Download FREE Sample Report: Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid Market – Detailed Research Report

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7️⃣ 4. Merck KGaA

Headquarters: Darmstadt, Germany
Key Offering: Cosmetic & Technical Grade Glycolic Acid

Merck delivers high-purity glycolic acid formulations for dermatological and industrial applications. Their European facilities maintain strict GMP compliance, serving multinational personal care brands.

Technology Highlights:

• Patented low-irritation formulations for sensitive skin products
• Research partnerships with dermatology institutes
• Closed-loop production minimizing environmental impact

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6️⃣ 5. Clariant

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Pharma & Cosmetics Grade GlyPure®

Clariant’s GlyPure® line sets industry benchmarks with specialized variants for anti-aging cosmetics (70% concentrates) and precision industrial cleaning (90-99% solutions).

Technology Highlights:

• Organic-certified glycolic acid for natural cosmetics
• Biopolymer encapsulation for controlled release
• Custom particle size distributions

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5️⃣ 6. Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (Merck Group)

Headquarters: St. Louis, USA (European HQ in Steinheim, Germany)
Key Offering: Laboratory & Pharmaceutical Grade

Sigma-Aldrich supplies ultra-high purity (≥99.9%) glycolic acid to European research institutions and compounding pharmacies, meeting EP/BP/USP monographs.

Technology Highlights:

• Traceless sourcing from non-GMO substrates
• Custom molecular sieving for precision applications
• GMP+ certified analytical standards

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4️⃣ 7. Airedale Chemical

Headquarters: Skipton, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Custom pH-Adjusted Blends

Airedale provides application-ready glycolic acid solutions (30-80%) with tailored buffering systems for specific industrial and personal care requirements.

Technology Highlights:

• Closed-loop packaging recycling program
• On-site neutralization capacity for regulatory compliance
• Technical support for formulation optimization

Download FREE Sample Report: Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid Market – Detailed Research Report

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3️⃣ 8. Jacoh Chemicals Ltd.

Headquarters: Manchester, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Diversified Product Portfolio

Jacoh serves as a one-stop supplier offering glycolic acid from 50% aqueous solutions to 98%+ crystalline powder, with specialized Brexit compliance support.

Technology Highlights:

• Custom automated dosing systems for industrial users
• Thermal-stable formulations for high-temperature processes
• UK-wide next-day delivery network

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2️⃣ 9. Cremer Oleo GmbH & Co. KG

Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany
Key Offering: Bio-based Derivatives

Cremer Oleo specializes in sustainable glycolic acid production through sugar fermentation, appealing to brands with green chemistry commitments.

Technology Highlights:

• Carbon footprint tracking per production batch
• Glycolic acid polyesters for film-forming applications
• Esterified variants for enhanced stability

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1️⃣ 10. Azo Materials

Headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Nanomaterial Precursors

Azo supplies ultra-pure (>99.99%) glycolic acid for electronic etching and biomedical device manufacturing, serving Europe’s growing medtech and semiconductor sectors.

Technology Highlights:

• Sub-micron filtration eliminating particulate contaminants
• Batch-specific FTIR compositional analysis
• Custom purity specifications up to 99.999%

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🧪 Market Outlook: Multifunctional Innovation Driving Growth

The European hydroxyacetic acid market is expanding beyond traditional applications through formulation advancements and sustainability priorities. Emerging opportunities exist in pharmaceutical APIs, electronics manufacturing, and environmental technologies.

📈 Key Development Trends:

• Shift toward bio-based production methods reducing carbon footprint
• Advanced controlled-release formulations for dermatology
• Increasing use in agricultural chemical synthesis
• Tighter EU regulations on purity and traceability
• Growth in high-purity applications for electronics manufacturing

Get Full Report: Europe Hydroxyacetic Acid Market – Comprehensive Analysis

The profiled companies demonstrate how glycolic acid continues evolving as a versatile chemical solution across multiple industries, combining performance with increasingly sustainable production methods.