Arkema is a global, diversified chemical company serving a wide range of industries, including general manufacturing, consumer goods and electronics, construction, transportation and energy, as well as water, health, and nutrition. The company operates through four main business segments: Adhesive Solutions, contributing 29% of total group sales in 2024; Advanced Materials, accounting for 37%; Coating Solutions, with 26%; and Intermediates, making up the remaining 8% of total group sales in 2024. Total group sales for the company in 2024 were €9.544 billion (approx. $9.91 billion), an increase of 0.36% compared to €9.51 billion (approx. $10.5 billion) in 2023. The company employs around 21,150 people across approximately 55 countries. In 2024, its geographic distribution of sales was as follows: North America contributed 35%, Europe 33%, Asia 27%, and the remaining 5% came from other regions.

Arkema operates 17 research and development centers staffed by about 1,800 researchers and dedicates roughly 2.9% of its annual sales to R&D efforts. In its annual report, Arkema reports that of the 245 new patent applications filed by the company in 2024, greater than 90% of them related to sustainable development.

Arkema developed its Adhesive Solutions segment following the integration of Bostik in 2015. This growth was driven by a series of targeted acquisitions in the construction sector — such as Den Braven, LX Brands, LIP, Permoseal, and Arc Building Products — as well as in high-performance industrial and engineering adhesives, including Prochimir, Fixatti, Edge Adhesives Texas, and Polytec PT. Notably, Arkema acquired Ashland’s performance adhesives business in 2022 and Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business in 2024. The segment offers a broad range of bonding and assembly solutions, including pressure-sensitive adhesives, engineering and thermal adhesives, specialty hot-melt adhesives, and high-performance sealants. In 2024, the segment generated sales of €2.7 billion (approximately $2.8 billion), remaining essentially flat compared to 2023.

The Adhesive Solutions segment is organized into two main business lines: Construction & Consumer and Industrial Assembly. In 2024, the Construction & Consumer line generated approximately 46% of the segment’s sales, while the Industrial Assembly line contributed around 54%. Breaking down sales by end market, building and construction represented 43% of the segment’s revenue, consumer goods and electronics accounted for 37%, general industry contributed 12%, and transportation and energy made up the remaining 8%. Regionally, Europe led with 42% of sales in 2024, followed by North America at 32%, Asia at 19%, and the rest of the world at 7%.

NOTES: Bostik announced in March 2024 that it has invested in UV acrylic hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive (UV acrylic HMPSA) capabilities, expanding the manufacture of UV acrylic HMPSAs within its North American facilities.

In December 2024, Arkema finalized its $150 million acquisition of Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business, significantly expanding its solutions portfolio and strengthening its position in the global flexible packaging market.

Opening image courtesy of Arkema.

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