Ballistol builds for growth

Ballistol GmbH has maintained satisfactory overall performance in 2026 despite a challenging domestic market in Germany, according to Leif Jacobsen, Senior Marketing and PR Manager at Ballistol GmbH. However, unusually dry conditions have had a noticeable effect on the company’s results, particularly in one of its important consumer categories.

“Despite a challenging German domestic market, our performance this year has remained satisfactory overall,” Jacobsen says. “As one of Germany’s largest suppliers of mosquito and tick protection products, however, we have felt very clearly that this year was exceptionally dry.” The lack of wet weather has reduced demand for protection products, a decline that Jacobsen says is “weighing noticeably on our overall results.”

The company has nevertheless seen encouraging momentum in other parts of its portfolio. Jacobsen says Ballistol’s cleaning products and DIY offering have recorded particularly positive growth, supported by increased demand from end consumers. That performance reinforces the importance of the consumer segment to the company’s broader strategy.

Not every newer product area has developed at the same pace. “Contrary to our expectations, demand for our new GunEx MIL firearms oil in the weapons care segment has so far developed more slowly than anticipated,” Jacobsen says. While the product is positioned for demanding professional applications, its initial progress has not matched Ballistol’s expectations for the year.

Internationally, Ballistol is seeing a similar market pattern. “Similar to the German market, we’re seeing a slight decline across the EU,” Jacobsen says. Based on the company’s figures so far, he again attributes the trend primarily to reduced sales of mosquito and tick repellent products rather than a fundamental shift in the wider business.

Jacobsen says Ballistol has not identified any major changes in core customer requirements around product performance, sustainability, packaging or supply reliability. Instead, the company is making proactive changes that improve convenience and help meet sustainability objectives. One example is its decision to convert the 65ml bottle size to a 100ml format with optimised dosing.

Sustainability also remains an established characteristic of Ballistol’s flagship product, rather than a recent addition, Jacobsen notes. “Ballistol Universal Oil has met many of the environmental criteria expected by today’s end consumers since 1904.” The product is biodegradable (60% according to OECD 301B over 70 days), dermatologically tested for skin friendliness, and food-safe in accordance with Food & Drugs Legislation 21 CFR 178.3570.

Defence is another area where Ballistol sees potential, although Jacobsen stresses that it is not yet a significant contributor to the company’s business. “Going forward, however, we plan to focus more strongly on this segment, as we offer suitable, approved care and cleaning products,” he says.

The principal product in that effort will be GunEx MIL. Jacobsen says the mil-spec firearms oil fully meets the German Armed Forces’ technical delivery conditions, or BW-TL, and has been specifically tailored to the requirements of modern NATO weapon systems. As defence and military markets attract renewed attention across Europe, this creates an opportunity for Ballistol to develop a more focused position in the sector.

Looking beyond 2026, Jacobsen identifies AI as a key commercial priority. Ballistol plans to continue integrating and expanding AI-driven solutions and processes internally to support operations, and externally to strengthen customer education and support.

Alongside that technological focus, the company will sharpen its marketing emphasis on end consumers. Jacobsen says the objective is to build greater awareness of the Ballistol brand and its broad product range among consumers, supporting future growth across its core cleaning, DIY, protection and care categories.

Ballistol: +49 (0) 8744 96 99 0, [email protected]

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