Top 10 Companies in the FB Flame Retardant Industry (2026): Market Leaders Powering Global Fire Safety

In Business Insights
January 25, 2026


The Global FB Flame Retardant Market was valued at USD 2.8 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5.6 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.8% during the forecast period (2025-2032). This robust growth is being driven by increasingly stringent fire safety regulations worldwide, surging demand from the construction and electronics sectors, and the accelerating shift towards eco-friendly, halogen-free alternatives like zinc borate.

As global industries prioritize safety and sustainability, the companies formulating and supplying these critical additives are at the forefront of innovation. This blog profiles the Top 10 Companies in the FB Flame Retardant Industry—a diverse group of chemical giants, specialty manufacturers, and sustainable material pioneers shaping safer materials for construction, transportation, and consumer goods.


🔟 1. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Zinc Borate-based Flame Retardants, Organic Phosphorus Flame Retardants, Comprehensive Additive Systems

BASF SE is a global leader in the chemical industry and a dominant force in the flame retardants market. Their extensive portfolio includes high-performance FB flame retardants, particularly zinc borate variants, which are engineered for superior smoke suppression and char formation in polymers. BASF serves a wide array of industries, including plastics, textiles, and coatings, with a strong focus on developing sustainable solutions.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Investment in bio-based and halogen-free flame retardant technologies.
  • Development of integrated solutions that enhance fire safety while improving material recyclability.
  • Commitment to achieving carbon-neutral growth by 2030 through sustainable production processes.

Download FREE Sample Report:
FB Flame Retardant Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Lanxess AG

Headquarters: Cologne, Germany
Key Offering: Zinc Borate Trihydrate, Specialty Additives for Plastics and Rubber

Lanxess AG is a leading specialty chemicals company with a significant presence in the flame retardant additive market. Their flame retardant products, especially zinc borate, are known for their reliability and effectiveness in demanding applications such as wire and cable, and engineering plastics. Lanxess emphasizes product quality and technical support for its global customer base.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on developing low-dust and easy-to-handle flame retardant formulations.
  • Active participation in industry consortia to advance fire safety standards and sustainable practices.

8️⃣ 3. Clariant AG

Headquarters: Muttenz, Switzerland
Key Offering: Exolit® OP (Organic Phosphorus), Zinc Borate Synergists, Halogen-Free Solutions

Clariant AG is renowned for its innovative flame retardant solutions, with a strong portfolio of halogen-free products. While famous for its phosphorus-based Exolit range, Clariant also utilizes zinc borate as a key synergist to enhance performance in polyamides, polyolefins, and other polymers, offering a balance of fire protection and material properties.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Pioneering eco-friendly flame retardants with a focus on circular economy principles.
  • Strategic R&D to improve the efficiency and environmental profile of additive systems.

7️⃣ 4. Dow Chemical Company

Headquarters: Midland, Michigan, USA
Key Offering: Polymer-bound Flame Retardants, Brominated and Bromine-Free Alternatives, Zinc Borate Composites

The Dow Chemical Company leverages its vast polymer expertise to develop integrated flame retardant solutions. Dow offers a range of options, including formulations that incorporate zinc borate for specific performance benefits like reduced smoke density and afterglow suppression in construction materials and electrical components.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Commitment to sustainable chemistry, with goals to advance a circular economy.
  • Development of flame retardants that enable the recycling of plastics without compromising safety.

Download FREE Sample Report:
FB Flame Retardant Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Huber Engineered Materials (J.M. Huber Corporation)

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Key Offering: ZB® Zinc Borates, Specialty Hydrates, Smoke Suppressants

Huber Engineered Materials is a premier global supplier of zinc borate flame retardants, marketed under the ZB® trademark. Huber’s products are critical components in PVC, polyolefins, elastomers, and coatings, valued for their multifunctional properties as flame retardants, smoke suppressants, and afterglow suppressants.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on providing sustainable mineral-based solutions that replace halogenated chemicals.
  • Continuous improvement of product purity and performance to meet evolving regulatory demands.

5️⃣ 6. ICL Group

Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
Key Offering: Fyrol™ (Phosphorus-based), FR-1220 (Brominated), Bromoklor, Zinc Borate Blends

ICL Group is a major global player in specialty minerals and chemicals, with a comprehensive flame retardants portfolio. ICL utilizes zinc borate in synergistic formulations, particularly for applications requiring enhanced char formation and thermal stability, serving the electronics, construction, and transportation sectors.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Significant investment in green and sustainable flame retardant technologies.
  • Development of novel solutions that address both fire safety and end-of-life material concerns.

4️⃣ 7. Albemarle Corporation

Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Key Offering: Saytex® (Brominated), Antiblaze® (Phosphorus-based), Zinc Borate for Synergistic Use

Albemarle Corporation is one of the world’s largest and most respected flame retardant producers. While historically strong in brominated chemistry, Albemarle actively develops and markets synergistic systems that include zinc borate, offering tailored solutions for high-performance polymers used in electronics and automotive applications.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on product stewardship and sustainable innovation to meet global environmental standards.
  • R&D programs aimed at enhancing the sustainability profile of its entire product portfolio.

3️⃣ 8. Italmatch Chemicals

Headquarters: Genoa, Italy
Key Offering: Phosphorus-based Flame Retardants, Specialty Additives, Zinc Borate Synergists

Italmatch Chemicals is a global specialty chemicals group with a strong focus on performance additives, including flame retardants. The company offers advanced solutions that often incorporate zinc borate to improve fire performance in engineering plastics and textiles, emphasizing innovation and customer-specific formulations.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Dedicated to developing environmentally compatible flame retardant solutions.
  • Expansion of its global production capacity to serve emerging markets more effectively.

2️⃣ 9. Borax (Rio Tinto)

Headquarters: Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA (Rio Tinto)
Key Offering: Firebrake® Zinc Borates, Refined Borates

Borax, part of the Rio Tinto group, is a foundational supplier of borate products worldwide. Its Firebrake® range of zinc borates is specifically engineered for flame retardancy and smoke suppression in a variety of polymer systems. As a primary producer of borates, Borax plays a critical role in the upstream supply chain for FB flame retardants.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Commitment to responsible mining and sustainable sourcing of borate minerals.
  • Ongoing research to optimize zinc borate performance for next-generation materials.

1️⃣ 10. Nabaltec AG

Headquarters: Schwandorf, Germany
Key Offering: Apyral® (ATH – Aluminium Trihydroxide), Zinc Borate Additives

Nabaltec AG specializes in functional fillers, with aluminium hydroxide (ATH) as its flagship flame retardant. The company also supplies zinc borate, which is used as a synergist, particularly in halogen-containing systems, to enhance char formation and provide anti-afterglow properties, mainly for plastics and ceramics.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on mineral-based, halogen-free flame retardants that align with green building trends.
  • Development of high-purity, high-performance products for demanding technical applications.

Read Full Report:
FB Flame Retardant Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of FB Flame Retardants Is Greener and Smarter

The FB flame retardant market is undergoing a significant transformation. While effective fire protection remains paramount, the industry is heavily investing in sustainable, non-halogenated alternatives, advanced synergistic formulations, and production processes that reduce environmental impact.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated regulatory phase-out of halogenated flame retardants in the EU and North America.
  • Growing demand for zinc borate and other mineral-based solutions in electric vehicle batteries and components.
  • Integration of flame retardants into circular economy models, focusing on recyclability and material life cycle.
  • Increased R&D into nano-enabled and bio-derived flame retardant technologies.

Read Full Report:
FB Flame Retardant Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying essential safety components—they are driving the sustainable evolution of materials across countless industries.