The EU27 chemical industry, encompassing base, specialty, and consumer chemicals, is vital to the European economy, supplying diverse sectors and employing 1.2 million people. While specialty chemicals contribute significantly to sales, the industry faces challenges due to China鈥檚 dominance, holding 43% of global sales and driving the majority of investments from the global chemical industry. Europe鈥檚 market share on the global chemical market has continued to decline.
Europe is the second largest chemicals producer in the world
World chemical sales 2023, 鈧�5,195 billion
EU27 market share dropped significantly in 10 years
World chemical sales by comparaison: top 10 countries
Over 20 years, the EU27 share of global chemical market dropped
EU27 share of global chemical market
Petrochemicals and specialties account for more than half of EU27 chemical sales
EU27 chemical sales 2023 (鈧�655 billion)
Two thirds of EU27 chemical sales generated in four Member States
EU27 chemical sales broken down by country (2023)
EU27 chemical sales significantly decreased in 2023 vs 2022
EU27 chemical sales structure (鈧� billion)
One third of EU27 chemical sales is generated from exports
EU27 chemical sales structure (%)
More than half of EU chemicals are supplied to the industry
Customer sectors of the EU27+UK chemical industry (2017)
