Lanxess: From Bayer dropout to chemical market leader in 20 years!

Lanxess: From Bayer dropout to chemical market leader in 20 years!

LANXESS AG is impressively celebrating its 20th anniversary and can look back on an eventful company history that was anything but straightforward. Matthias Zachert, CEO of the renowned specialty chemicals group, recalled that the company was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on January 31, 2005 after being spun off from Bayer AG. While its founding on July 1, 2004 represented a first step towards independence, there were great doubts at the time about the future viability of the company, which operates in a sector that is highly dependent on the economy. After all, Bayer shareholders received a piece of LANXESS for ten of their shares and the company had to divest itself of unprofitable areas several times, including chemicals for textile processing and paper production.

“The decision to restructure has proven to be the right one,” said North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst, praising the decisions taken at the time. Under Zachert's direction, who has been at the helm since April 2014, LANXESS has developed into the fourth largest chemical company in Germany and operates in the DAX 30 league. They have put out feelers and invested particularly in the areas of fine chemicals and high-performance plastics - particularly notably in disinfectants, material protection agents and rubber products for tire production.

Growth and challenges

“We have survived upheavals such as the Lehman bankruptcy and the financial crisis and at the same time faced the challenges of digitalization,” Zachert continued. The passion for new products and technologies has catapulted LANXESS into a leading position within the chemical industry. The automotive industry in particular, as one of the largest buyers of rubber and chemicals, will remain a key partner in the future.

The latest figures also demonstrate the company's dynamism: last year it generated sales of 6.37 billion euros. However, this positive balance is not only accompanied by successes, but also by challenges, so that the company repeatedly posts how to deal with “red numbers”. With a clear commitment to the locations and the group headquarters in Cologne, where the heart of the company has been beating since 2013, LANXESS shows that it is sticking to its region.

Investment strategy and social responsibility

From the very beginning, the company's management implemented exceptional strategies that have positioned LANXESS strongly in the market. From its founding until 2025, we have worked continuously to help the production facilities in Germany as well as in international markets such as the USA and Asia to expand globally. An example of this is the joint venture with Saudi Aramco for the rubber business and the new joint venture for engineering materials with Advent, founded in April 2023.

In addition, Zachert is also an advocate for sustainable development and emphasizes the need to promote basic education to enable children to access the labor market in the future. “A new energy policy is essential to remain competitive in Germany,” said Wüst, who praised NRW as a location in this context.

However, before readers lose touch with the entire chemical industry, it should be mentioned that Germany is one of the leading players in this area, accounting for a quarter of the EU's chemical sales. Overall, the industry's turnover is estimated at 198 billion euros, with over 450,000 employees working in the German chemical industry. This open structure with over 2,000 companies offers a variety of employment opportunities and shows the immense importance of this sector for the German economy.

In summary: In two decades, LANXESS has risen from the bottom of the ladder to the top of the chemical industry and combines tradition with innovation. The next 20 years could be just as exciting as the company continues to meet the challenges of the global market.