Interview: Globally Connected, Locally Committed – How Oxerra Is Raising the Bar in the Pigment Industry

Following the successful acquisition of Venator Pigments by Cathay, Oxerra has emerged as a truly global supplier of inorganic pigments – with deep European roots and a strong focus on innovation. BFT Editor-in-chief Silvio Schade spoke with Terence Yu (CEO & Founder) and Anna Li (Chairperson) about joining two pigment powerhouses, building a resilient worldwide network, and shaping the future of colour in construction.

“The acquisition was about becoming more complete.”

BFT International: Mr. Yu, Looking back, what strategic gaps did Cathay see that Venator could fill and vice-versa?

Terence Yu: Too many acquisitions end up one plus one equals one-and-a-half. We set out to prove one plus one can be more than two. The acquisition was never just about getting bigger, it was about finding the right organization, one that aligns with our mission to deliver innovative, sustainable colour solutions and top-tier service for our customers. Cathay had built a reputation for manufacturing excellence, offering innovative products for specialty markets and strong value-added services. Venator not only brought decades of pigment know-how and a unique product portfolio, it actually invented pigment granulate technology and added deep expertise in dosing equipment and technical support. Bringing the two organisations together makes us far more complete. Today we serve customers more comprehensively, worldwide, and with stronger technical backup than ever before.

Culture first - then systems

BFT International: Ms. Li, From announcement to full integration, what proved the toughest challenge?

Anna Li: Culture—always culture. You can sync IT systems in a quarter, but aligning mind-sets, expectations, and ways of working takes much longer. We used several approaches: joint integration teams, cross-regional workshops, and team-building days that let colleagues from both companies get to know one another and see issues from the other side. We’ve established open channels of communication from the outset, engaging both teams and stakeholders with a unified vision for the future.

Resilience by design

BFT International: Oxerra promotes a “resilient global pigment production network.” What does that look like in practice?

Terence Yu: We operate a multi-site network of pigment plants and application centres across Asia, Europe and the United States. Our key hubs include production sites in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the UK, the US, Australia and China, each supported by local technology centres. The set-up boosts operational efficiency, safeguards supply and keeps us close to customers. If one region faces disruption, another steps in. Our unmatched granulation capacity and globally aligned quality standards ensure consistent performance, batch after batch. We listen to customers and strive to provide the solutions they need. Our size gives us strength, but our mindset gives us the speed the market demands.

Scaling Up –
Without Slowing Down

BFT International: Looking ahead, how do you see the combined company evolving? Where do you see the biggest opportunities?

Terence Yu: Oxerra has created a powerful team that brings together complementary strengths. Three priorities guide us:

- Expand market reach. Our customer bases and footprints complement each other, giving us access to every major construction market. Venator’s trusted brand, technical depth and dense distribution network provide a springboard in Europe. The Walluf, Germany site, renowned for its premium granules and advanced dosing-equipment expertise, now taps directly into Oxerra’s wider production possibilities from Asia-Pacific. European customers get a broader product range, faster lead times and local service from a single source.
- Increase innovation. By combining the best minds from both organizations, we will launch products and solutions that address unmet market needs.
- Enhance operational efficiency. Streamlining overlapping processes and consolidating operations frees up resources we can reinvest in technology and service.

Next horizon:
making sustainable colour the new standard

BFT International: Looking three years ahead, what headline would you like to read in BFT International?

Anna Li: “Oxerra Sets the Standard for Sustainable Colour in Construction.” That’s our goal. We’re investing heavily in CO₂-reduced pigments and transparent life-cycle data. But sustainability isn’t only about the environment, it’s about commitment and long-term partnerships. We want to be the partner of choice for customers who care about quality, responsibility, and reliability and we‘re excited about the possibilities ahead.

BFT International: Mr. Yu, Ms. Li, thank you very much for the interview!