Lubrizol Corporation
HQ US80% shareSOLE SUPPLIER
Specialty chemicals; near-monopoly on Carbopol cross-linked polyacrylic acid gelling agents.
chemical · input
Carbomer (carbopol) — pharmaceutical-grade gel polymer
Cross-linked polyacrylic acid polymer; primary gelling agent for topical pharmaceutical gels (0.5-2%); Lubrizol Corporation supplies ~80%+ of global pharmaceutical carbomer under Carbopol® brand; critical for gel-based topical formulations
3
Source countries
4
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
Goods that need this input
1 essential American goods rely on carbomer (carbopol) — pharmaceutical-grade gel polymer somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Source countries
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| USUnited States | 82% |
| CNChina | 8% |
| DEGermany | 6% |
Who makes it
Supplier companies
4 companies produce carbomer (carbopol) — pharmaceutical-grade gel polymer.
Ashland Global Holdings (formerly ISP)
HQ US8% share
Specialty chemical company; acquired International Specialty Products (ISP) in 2011 bringing the leading US NMP production capacity; manufactures high-purity NMP for medical, electronics, and battery applications; one of five major Western NMP suppliers serving medical-grade dialysis membrane production alongside BASF, Eastman, LyondellBasell, and Mitsubishi Chemical
Anhui Newman Fine Chemicals
HQ CN5% share
Chinese pharmaceutical and personal care carbomer producer; one of the largest non-Lubrizol carbomer manufacturers. Produces cross-linked polyacrylic acid (carbomer) for personal care and some pharmaceutical applications at lower price points than Lubrizol Carbopol. Growing market share as pharmaceutical formulators seek alternatives to Lubrizol after COVID-era supply shock.
Evonik Industries AG
HQ DE5% share
German specialty chemicals company; major producer of methyl mercaptan (used in methionine synthesis for animal feed) and other organosulfur chemicals. Also produces specialty sulfur chemicals including mercaptan blends used in gas odorization. Evonik's organosulfur chemicals are primarily focused on methionine production (world's largest DL-methionine producer under 'EVONIK MetAMINO' brand) — methionine is the most important amino acid supplement for poultry and aquaculture. Same mercaptan chemistry used in safety odorants also underpins the global animal feed amino acid supply chain.