Umicore acquires full ownership of Todini

Umicore will buy the remaining 52% stake in chemical distributor Todini & Co, bringing its ownership to 100%, Umicore said on Tuesday December 2.

Umicore will buy the remaining 52% stake in chemical distributor Todini & Co, bringing its ownership to 100%, Umicore said on Tuesday December 2.

Umicore and the Todini Group have operated the joint venture focused on the distribution of chemical products, including metal salts and non-ferrous metal oxides, since 2005.

Todini will now be integrated into Umicore’s cobalt and specialty materials business unit.

Todini, based in Italy, has six subsidiaries outside Italy and is a European leader in the distribution of industrial chemical products, Umicore said in a statement.

The chemicals company distributes salts and oxides of non-ferrous metals, including nickel, selenium, cobalt, bismuth, copper, tin, molybdenum, vanadium and tellurium.

Its customers serve a variety of industries including surface treatment and plating, pigments, glass and ceramics and animal nutrition. The company generated a turnover of €125 million ($156 million) (metal included) in 2013 and employs 38 people.

The acquisition of the shares from the Todini family will enable Umicore to expand its distribution activities and strengthen its supply chain from raw materials to end-users, Belgium-based Umicore said.

“We are very pleased with this acquisition and the benefits it will bring to both companies in the different markets. Twelve months after our acquisition of US distributor Palm Commodities, this underlines our commitment to further expand our activities, to strengthen our product portfolio and to add an additional step in the overall value chain,” said Umicore global business director Joris van Hove.

The Todini Group also welcomed the deal. “Todini Group spa and Umicore can be proud of a successful and profitable collaboration over the past ten years. Becoming part of Umicore is the logical next step in the development of the [joint venture] Todini & Co,” Carlo Todini said.

The deal is expected to close around the end of this year, pending regulatory approvals.

Fleur Ritzema 
fritzema@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: FleurRitzema_MB 

What to read next
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.
The Mexico Metals Outlook 2025 conference explored challenges and opportunities in the steel, aluminum and scrap markets, focusing on tariffs, nearshoring, capacity growth and global trends.
China has launched a coordinated crackdown on the illegal export of strategic minerals under export control, such as antimony, gallium, germanium, tungsten and rare earths, the country’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday May 9.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.
The US-China trade truce announced on May 12 has brought cautious optimism to China’s non-ferrous metals markets, signaling a possible shift in global trade. Starting May 14, the removal of additional tariffs has impacted sectors like battery raw materials, minor metals and base metals such as zinc and nickel, with mixed reactions. While the improved sentiment has lifted futures prices and trade activity, the long-term effects remain unclear due to challenges like supply-demand pressures and export controls.