- Business
- Ercros, S.A. (ECR.MC) manufactures and markets basic chemicals, intermediate chemicals and pharmaceuticals with operations centered in Spain. The company operates through three divisions: Chlorine Derivatives, which produces chlorine, caustic soda and potash, sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, dichloroethane, vinyl chloride monomer, PVC compounds, sodium chlorate, chloroisocyanurates, dicalcium phosphate, potassium carbonate, ammonia and bioplastics for water treatment, swimming pools, bleaching, solvents, detergents, inks, animal feed and cooling; Intermediate Chemicals, which manufactures formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, glues and resins, molding compounds, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and sodium formate for particleboard, laminates, plywood, resins, paints, varnishes, electrical components, tableware and tanning; and Pharmaceuticals, which supplies active ingredients and intermediates including azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycins, amlodipine besylate, famotidine, fosfomycin calcium, sodium and trometamol, and fusidic acid for antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering, anti-ulcer and anti-fungal applications. Ercros maintains 10 production facilities across Spain, exports 54% of sales to over 90 countries serving industries such as chemicals, construction, wood, paints, food, pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive, water treatment and personal care, and employs around 1,335 people. Founded in 1989 through the merger of S.A. Cros—tracing origins to 1817—and Unión Explosivos Río Tinto, S.A., the company is headquartered at Avda. Diagonal 595, Barcelona, Spain, and is listed on the Spanish stock exchanges. Recent developments include the installation of a new photovoltaic plant at Flix to cut CO2 emissions by 800 tonnes annually, capacity expansions at Vila-seca I and Tortosa factories boosting chlorine to 217,000 tonnes/year and formaldehyde output, long-term supply contracts for formaldehyde through 2030 and chlorine extensions, alongside rebuffed takeover bids from Esseco in 2024—withdrawn in August 2025 due to CNMC conditions—and earlier interest from Bondalti, while CNMC scrutiny of potential mergers continues into 2025.