From the colossal 1.2 billion tons churned out in China to the resilience of U.S. shipments nearing $900 billion, the global chemical industry continues to be a titan of production, commerce, and complex challenges.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global chemical production reached 495 million metric tons, up 3.5% from 2021, driven by petrochemicals and specialties.
- U.S. chemical manufacturing shipments totaled $889 billion in 2022, with inorganic chemicals contributing $62.4 billion.
- China's chemical output hit 1.2 billion tons in 2023, accounting for 45% of global production, led by ethylene at 28 million tons.
- The U.S. chemical industry employed 538,000 workers in 2023, down 1.2% from 2022.
- Globally, chemical manufacturing supported 10 million direct jobs in 2022.
- Germany's chemical sector had 456,000 employees in 2023, a 2.5% decline.
- U.S. chemical industry revenue reached $1.02 trillion in 2023.
- Global chemical sales hit $5.1 trillion in 2023, up 2.8% YoY.
- BASF Group revenue was €68.9 billion in 2023, down 18%.
- U.S. chemical industry emitted 420 million metric tons CO2e in 2022.
- Global chemical sector water usage totaled 300 billion m³ in 2023.
- EU chemical industry reduced GHG emissions 34% since 1990 per Cefic 2023 data.
- U.S. chemical exports reached $257 billion in 2023.
- Global chemical trade volume $2.8 trillion in 2023, up 1.5%.
- China imported 45 million tons petrochemicals in 2023.
The chemical industry continues global growth, with Asia now dominating production and trade.
Employment Statistics
- The U.S. chemical industry employed 538,000 workers in 2023, down 1.2% from 2022.
- Globally, chemical manufacturing supported 10 million direct jobs in 2022.
- Germany's chemical sector had 456,000 employees in 2023, a 2.5% decline.
- China’s chemical industry workforce exceeded 20 million in 2023.
- U.S. chemical plant managers averaged 15.3 years experience in 2023 survey.
- European chemical employment totaled 1.2 million in 2023, stable YoY.
- India's chemical sector employed 1.5 million directly in FY2023.
- Japan chemical industry jobs numbered 320,000 in 2023, down 1.8%.
- Brazil chemical manufacturing workforce was 185,000 in 2023.
- 65% of U.S. chemical workers held bachelor's degrees or higher in 2023.
- Global chemical R&D staff reached 500,000 in 2023.
- South Korea chemical employment grew 3% to 210,000 in 2023.
- Average U.S. chemical operator salary was $68,500 in 2023.
- France chemical industry employed 170,000 in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia petrochemical workforce hit 45,000 in 2023.
- 28% of global chemical jobs were in safety/health roles in 2023 survey.
- Italy chemical employment stable at 92,000 in 2023.
- U.S. women comprised 22% of chemical manufacturing workforce in 2023.
- Russia chemical jobs totaled 340,000 in 2023.
- Netherlands chemical sector employed 92,000 in 2023.
- Belgium chemicals workforce was 88,000 in 2023.
- U.S. chemical engineers numbered 34,000 employed in 2023.
- Global chemical apprenticeships reached 50,000 in 2023.
- UK chemical industry jobs fell to 172,000 in 2023.
- Iran petrochemical employment grew to 120,000 in 2023.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
The global chemical industry presents a stark dichotomy: while China boasts a workforce larger than the population of many countries, major Western economies are quietly shedding experienced, highly-educated jobs, signaling a profound geographic and strategic shift in the sector's center of gravity.
Environmental Statistics
- U.S. chemical industry emitted 420 million metric tons CO2e in 2022.
- Global chemical sector water usage totaled 300 billion m³ in 2023.
- EU chemical industry reduced GHG emissions 34% since 1990 per Cefic 2023 data.
- U.S. chemical plants released 1.2 billion lbs toxic chemicals in 2022.
- 75% of global chemical companies adopted circular economy practices by 2023.
- China's chemical industry SO2 emissions fell 25% to 1.8 million tons in 2023.
- World chemical waste generation was 150 million tons in 2022.
- BASF reduced energy intensity 25% since 1990 baseline in 2023.
- U.S. chemical recycling capacity reached 2 million tons by 2023.
- Global chemical sector renewable energy use hit 15% in 2023.
- Germany's chemical VOC emissions down 60% since 1990 in 2023.
- 92% of EU chemical sites achieved zero landfilled waste in 2023.
- India's chemical industry water recycling rate 65% in 2023.
- Global chemical PFAS emissions monitored at 100,000 tons annually in 2023.
- Dow's Scope 1&2 emissions reduced 20% vs 2020 baseline in 2023.
- U.S. chemical NOx emissions totaled 500,000 tons in 2022.
- 40% of chemical production used bio-based feedstocks by 2023 pilots.
- Japan's chemical CO2 intensity fell 15% in 2023.
- Brazil chemical sector deforestation-linked emissions down 10% in 2023.
- Global chemical energy consumption 10% of total industrial use in 2023.
- U.S. chemical hazardous waste 35 million tons managed in 2022.
- Saudi Aramco chemicals Scope 3 emissions 150 million tCO2e in 2023.
- 85% chemical firms met ISO 14001 certification in 2023 survey.
- France chemical wastewater discharge reduced 18% in 2023.
- Global chemical industry plastic waste recycled 9% in 2023.
Environmental Statistics Interpretation
While the chemical industry has made commendable strides in efficiency and circularity, the staggering scale of its ongoing emissions, toxic releases, and waste generation reveals a sector still fundamentally at odds with a sustainable planet.
Market and Trade Statistics
- U.S. chemical exports reached $257 billion in 2023.
- Global chemical trade volume $2.8 trillion in 2023, up 1.5%.
- China imported 45 million tons petrochemicals in 2023.
- EU chemical exports €190 billion, imports €240 billion in 2023.
- U.S. chemical trade surplus $40 billion in 2023.
- Middle East chemical exports grew 8% to $120 billion in 2023.
- India's chemical exports hit $25 billion in FY2023, +18% YoY.
- Global methanol trade 60 million tons in 2023.
- Germany chemical exports €95 billion in 2023.
- South Korea chemical exports $110 billion in 2023.
- Brazil chemical imports $30 billion, exports $15 billion in 2023.
- Global polyethylene trade 25 million tons in 2023.
- Japan chemical imports ¥10 trillion in FY2023.
- Russia chemical exports $28 billion despite sanctions in 2023.
- Global ammonia trade 25 million tons in 2023.
- Netherlands chemical exports €110 billion in 2023.
- U.S. exports to Mexico chemicals $50 billion in 2023.
- China chemical trade deficit $50 billion in 2023.
- Global specialty chemicals market $1.2 trillion in 2023.
- Saudi Arabia chemical exports $45 billion in 2023.
- Italy chemical exports €28 billion in 2023.
- Global VCM trade 15 million tons in 2023.
- Belgium chemical trade surplus €20 billion in 2023.
- U.S. chemical imports from China $35 billion in 2023.
Market and Trade Statistics Interpretation
While the world argues over politics, the sobering, aromatic truth is that everyone is deeply and profitably invested in everyone else's chemical soup, proving the bonds of global trade are far more stable than the molecules we ship.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, global chemical production reached 495 million metric tons, up 3.5% from 2021, driven by petrochemicals and specialties.
- U.S. chemical manufacturing shipments totaled $889 billion in 2022, with inorganic chemicals contributing $62.4 billion.
- China's chemical output hit 1.2 billion tons in 2023, accounting for 45% of global production, led by ethylene at 28 million tons.
- European chemical production index stood at 102.5 in 2023 (2015=100), with a 1.2% YoY decline due to energy costs.
- World ethylene production capacity reached 215 million tons per year in 2023, with Asia holding 52% share.
- U.S. organic chemical manufacturing output was 1.45 billion pounds in Q4 2023, up 2.1% QoQ.
- India's petrochemical production grew 12% YoY to 18.5 million tons in FY2023, boosted by polyester.
- Global ammonia production was 192 million tons in 2022, with 80% used in fertilizers.
- Japan’s chemical shipments volume increased 4.7% to 12.3 million tons in 2023.
- Brazil's chemical production index rose 5.8% in 2023, reaching 115 (2010=100).
- Saudi Arabia's petrochemical output hit 75 million tons in 2023, 60% from SABIC.
- German chemical production volume declined 8.2% in 2023 to 105 million tons.
- Global polyethylene production capacity was 112 million tpa in 2023, with 45% in Asia.
- U.S. paint and coating production reached 1.48 billion gallons in 2022.
- South Korea's chemical exports volume grew 7% to 92 million tons in 2023.
- World methanol production was 110 million tons in 2023, China at 65 million tons.
- France's specialty chemicals output increased 2.5% to €28 billion in 2023.
- Global PVC production hit 55 million tons in 2023, Asia 70% share.
- U.S. pharmaceutical chemical production value was $45.2 billion in 2022.
- Russia's chemical production grew 3.1% to 48 million tons in 2023 despite sanctions.
- Global titanium dioxide production capacity was 8.2 million tons in 2023.
- Italy's chemical industry production index fell 4.3% YoY in 2023 to 98.7.
- Iran's petrochemical production reached 66 million tons in 2023/24.
- Global propylene capacity expanded to 135 million tpa by end-2023.
- U.S. soap and cleaning compound production value hit $32.1 billion in 2022.
- Belgium's chemical production volume was 24 million tons in 2023.
- World caustic soda production reached 88 million tons in 2023.
- Netherlands chemical output declined 2.1% to 18.5 million tons in 2023.
- Global paraxylene production was 82 million tons in 2023.
- U.S. adhesive manufacturing shipments totaled $14.8 billion in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
While the world continues to be literally built and bound by chemicals—with staggering scale in Asia and resilience in the U.S.—the industry's map reveals a sobering tale of two hemispheres: booming growth east of the Suez and a struggle for momentum in an energy-pressed Europe.
Revenue and Financial Statistics
- U.S. chemical industry revenue reached $1.02 trillion in 2023.
- Global chemical sales hit $5.1 trillion in 2023, up 2.8% YoY.
- BASF Group revenue was €68.9 billion in 2023, down 18%.
- Dow Inc. net sales totaled $44.6 billion in 2023.
- China's chemical enterprises revenue exceeded ¥15 trillion in 2023.
- European chemical industry sales €550 billion in 2023, -9% YoY.
- Linde plc revenue hit $32.9 billion in 2023.
- ExxonMobil Chemical revenues $94 billion in 2023.
- India's chemical industry revenue grew 10% to $220 billion in FY2023.
- LyondellBasell sales $41.1 billion in 2023.
- Global chemical EBITDA margin averaged 12.5% in 2023.
- U.S. chemical profit margins fell to 8.2% in 2023 from 12.1% in 2022.
- SABIC revenue SAR 142.9 billion ($38.1B) in 2023.
- Japan's chemical sales ¥52 trillion in FY2023.
- Air Products revenue $12.1 billion in FY2023.
- Covestro sales €14.7 billion in 2023.
- DuPont de Nemours revenue $12.1 billion in 2023.
- Brazil chemical industry revenue BRL 180 billion in 2023.
- Global chemical capex totaled $200 billion in 2023.
- Germany's chemical sales €212 billion in 2023, -15% YoY.
- Celanese Corp revenue $10.9 billion in 2023.
- South Africa chemical revenue ZAR 450 billion in 2023.
- U.S. chemical manufacturing EBITDA $85 billion in 2023.
- Global chemical net profit margin averaged 6.8% in 2023.
- France chemical sales €75 billion in 2023.
Revenue and Financial Statistics Interpretation
The global chemical industry continues to simmer at a multi-trillion-dollar scale, yet its profit margins are evaporating faster than a volatile solvent, revealing a sector under immense pressure despite its staggering size.
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