Brenntag and Cargill partner for exclusive personal care distribution in Mexico
The collaboration is positioned to address evolving consumer preferences for products that deliver both performance and sustainability, with an emphasis on naturally derived inputs.
MEXICO – Brenntag has formalized a strategic exclusive distribution agreement with Cargill Beauty, the personal care division of Cargill, for the Mexican personal care market.
Under the deal, Brenntag will supply customers across Mexico with Cargill Beauty’s portfolio of nature-derived ingredients and solutions for skincare, haircare, colour care and oral care formulations.
The agreement expands Brenntag’s Beauty & Personal Care portfolio in Mexico, giving local formulators and brands access to Cargill’s high-quality, performance-focused and sustainability-oriented ingredient solutions.
Maia Navarrete, Senior Director Beauty & Care for Brenntag Specialities North America, stated, “We are delighted to start a relationship with Cargill Beauty and bring their innovative portfolio to customers across Mexico.”
“This new distribution representation reinforces Brenntag Specialities Beauty & Personal Care’s commitment to delivering differentiated solutions, technical expertise and innovation that help our customers meet evolving consumer needs.”
Maia added, “Together with Cargill Beauty, we look forward to creating value and accelerating growth in the Personal Care market.”
By pairing Cargill’s ingredient expertise with Brenntag’s distribution network, technical support and market knowledge, the partnership aims to enhance customers’ formulation capabilities while strengthening supply chain reliability.
Brenntag highlights that the relationship builds on existing global cooperation between the two companies and now extends to dedicated, exclusive representation for Mexico’s personal care sector.
Cargill Beauty provides a diverse portfolio of nature-derived ingredients alongside an integrated and responsible supply chain, advanced research and application services, and support for the sustainable growth of personal care brands.
Its portfolio spans texturizers, emollients, emulsifiers, sensory enhancers and bio-actives for skin care, hair care, colour care and oral care applications.
Brenntag Q2 2026 financial results highlight
Brenntag SE reported second-quarter 2026 results characterized by double-digit growth in sales and profitability, driven by disciplined commercial execution, pricing discipline and cost reductions, even as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East tightened global chemical supply chains and lifted input prices.
The company posted sales of EUR 4.3 billion, an 11% year-on-year increase, while operating gross profit climbed 19% to EUR 1.146 billion (USD 1.35 billion) and the gross margin expanded 1.7 percentage points to 26.9%.
Operating EBITDA surged 41% to EUR 463 million (USD 536 million), supported by higher chemical pricing and stable volumes, with the ongoing cost-out program delivering EUR 41 million (USD 47.4 million) in savings during the quarter against the 2025 baseline.
Free cash flow for the quarter stood at EUR 4 million (USD 4.63 million), down from EUR 154 million (USD 178 million) in Q2 2025
Brenntag Essentials delivered operating gross profit of EUR 836 million (USD 967 million), up 23.1%, with gross margins rising 2.2 percentage points to 28.5% as unified pricing and stocking strategies took hold in North America and EMEA, while APAC passed through higher transportation costs amid broad-based chemical price adjustments; Latin America also posted strong results.
Brenntag Specialities recorded operating gross profit of EUR 310 million (USD 359 million), up 8.8%, with margins improving by 0.6 percentage points to 23.4%.
Although less directly impacted by the Middle East conflict, all Specialities business units converted market opportunities into organic EBITDA growth, with Beauty & Personal Care and Material Science performing particularly well globally and expanding key principal partnerships across Life Science and Material Science.
On the M&A front, the company announced the acquisition of South Korea–based Woojin Trading, a speciality distributor of beauty and personal care ingredients, as part of its bolt-on growth strategy to strengthen presence in the region’s expanding beauty and personal care market.
The closing is expected in Q4 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
Based on solid year-to-date performance and a positive start to the third quarter supported by recent pricing dynamics, Brenntag raised its full-year 2026 operating EBITDA guidance to EUR 1.35–1.45 billion (USD 1.56-1.68 billion).
Meanwhile, Brenntag is scheduled to provide a comprehensive update on its medium-term strategy, operating model evolution, and long-term value creation framework at its Capital Markets Day on 12 November 2026.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
