ICIS - chemical podcasts Episode 1383: Think Tank Fecc ‘25: Christian Kohlpaintner reflects on a career in chemicals
Sep 11, 2025
Christian Kohlpaintner, former CEO of Brenntag, shares his decades of experience in the chemical industry. He discusses the importance of bold steps to overcome current challenges and emphasizes that the industry can emerge stronger from crises. Kohlpaintner highlights issues like tariff wars and overcapacity impacting competitiveness and distribution. He advocates for consolidation in the distribution sector and the need for visionary leadership to attract talent. Additionally, he touches on the potential for private equity to create national champions in Europe.
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Tariffs Stalled The Early Recovery
- Tariff uncertainty since April 1st paused a nascent chemical recovery by making customers hold back investment and spending.
- Geopolitical tensions plus import competition are further suppressing European demand.
Shift From Just-In-Time To Just-In-Case
- Prepare your distribution operations to be 'just in case' rather than purely 'just in time' to manage geopolitical and supply disruptions.
- Build global sourcing flexibility so you can supply customers competitively from multiple regions.
Fragmentation Limits Distribution Efficiency
- The chemical distribution market remains extremely fragmented with top players holding only single-digit shares, limiting industry efficiency.
- Greater consolidation could raise efficiency and increase manufacturers' willingness to outsource more.