While the EU chemical industry faced a turbulent year with production falling to 295 million tonnes in 2022, a closer look at the data reveals a sector in the midst of a profound and resilient transformation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the EU chemical industry produced 295 million tonnes of chemicals, a decrease of 6.3% from 2021 due to high energy costs.
- EU-27 chemical production index stood at 92.6 in 2023 (2015=100), reflecting a 7.4% decline from 2022 amid economic slowdown.
- Basic chemicals output in the EU reached 142 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 48% of total chemical production.
- EU chemical industry turnover reached €546 billion in 2022, down 12% from 2021 record high.
- Value added by EU chemicals sector was €210 billion in 2022, contributing 1.1% to EU GDP.
- Average chemical product prices in EU rose 15% in 2022 due to energy and raw material inflation.
- EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly in 2022, down 1% from 2021.
- Indirect and induced jobs from EU chemicals totaled 3.1 million in 2022, supporting supply chains.
- Average annual wage in EU chemical sector was €55,000 in 2022, 32% above EU average.
- EU chemical exports totaled €225 billion in 2022, with 85% intra-EU trade.
- Chemical imports to EU reached €169 billion in 2022, leading from China at €45 billion.
- EU's largest chemical export markets in 2022: USA €30bn, China €25bn, Switzerland €15bn.
- GHG emissions from EU chemical production fell 23% since 2008 to 130 million tonnes CO2eq in 2022.
- EU chemical industry energy intensity improved 55% since 1990, at 3.4 GJ/tonne in 2022.
- 92% of EU chemical companies achieved Responsible Care certification in 2022.
Despite challenges, the EU chemical industry remains a major global economic and export force.
Employment Statistics
- EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly in 2022, down 1% from 2021.
- Indirect and induced jobs from EU chemicals totaled 3.1 million in 2022, supporting supply chains.
- Average annual wage in EU chemical sector was €55,000 in 2022, 32% above EU average.
- Women represented 24% of the EU chemical workforce in 2022, up from 22% in 2018.
- EU chemical firms invested €2.1 billion in training and skills in 2022.
- Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) in EU chemicals was 0.78 per million hours worked in 2022.
- 95% of EU chemical sites reported zero process safety events in 2022.
- Youth employment (under 25) in EU chemicals was 4.5% of total workforce in 2022.
- STEM graduates employed in EU chemicals rose 8% to 45,000 in 2022.
- EU chemical industry regional employment: Germany 530,000, France 170,000, Netherlands 90,000 in 2022.
- EU chemical industry employment in Germany: 530,000 direct jobs in 2022.
- France: 170,000 chemical jobs in 2022, down 2%.
- Italy chemical workforce: 85,000 in 2022.
- Spain: 65,000 employed in chemicals 2022.
- Poland chemical jobs: 90,000 in 2022.
- EU chemical apprenticeships: 50,000 active in 2022.
- Female executives in EU chemicals: 18% in 2022, up 3% from 2020.
- EU chemical sector absenteeism rate: 2.8% in 2022.
- Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR): 1.2 per million hours in EU chemicals 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While the EU chemical sector is a high-wage powerhouse anchoring millions of jobs, its recipe for the future requires adding more youth, more women, and more safety vigilance to the mix to counter a slightly shrinking core workforce.
Environmental and Sustainability Statistics
- GHG emissions from EU chemical production fell 23% since 2008 to 130 million tonnes CO2eq in 2022.
- EU chemical industry energy intensity improved 55% since 1990, at 3.4 GJ/tonne in 2022.
- 92% of EU chemical companies achieved Responsible Care certification in 2022.
- Water usage in EU chemicals reduced 42% since 2008 to 1.2 billion m³ in 2022.
- Hazardous waste from EU chemicals down 15% to 8 million tonnes in 2022.
- Renewable energy use in EU chemical production reached 18% of total in 2022.
- EU chemicals recycled 2.5 million tonnes of plastics in 2022, 45% recycling rate.
- SOx emissions from EU chemical plants decreased 85% since 1990 to 0.12 million tonnes in 2022.
- NOx emissions reduced 60% to 0.35 million tonnes in EU chemicals in 2022 vs 1990.
- EU chemical industry R&D on sustainable chemistry: 40% of total €11.8bn in 2022.
- In 2022, EU chemical production emitted 44% less CO2 per tonne than global average.
- EU chemical industry VOC emissions down 70% since 1990 to 0.45 million tonnes in 2022.
- Dust emissions reduced 65% to 0.08 million tonnes in 2022 vs 1990.
- EU chemicals achieved 99.5% product stewardship compliance in 2022.
- Bio-based chemicals production: 2 million tonnes in EU 2022, 1% of total.
- Chemical recycling capacity in EU: 0.7 million tonnes in 2022.
- EU chemical sector Scope 1+2 emissions: 140 Mt CO2eq in 2022.
- Freshwater withdrawal intensity: 4.1 m³/tonne in EU chemicals 2022.
- 75% of EU chemical energy from natural gas in 2022.
Environmental and Sustainability Statistics Interpretation
The EU chemical industry, once a heavyweight environmental contender, has clearly been on a radical and commendable decarbonizing diet, slimming its emissions, waste, and resource thirst while pumping up its recycling and renewable energy muscles to become a significantly leaner, cleaner, and more responsible global player.
Market and Economic Statistics
- EU chemical industry turnover reached €546 billion in 2022, down 12% from 2021 record high.
- Value added by EU chemicals sector was €210 billion in 2022, contributing 1.1% to EU GDP.
- Average chemical product prices in EU rose 15% in 2022 due to energy and raw material inflation.
- EU chemical industry trade surplus stood at €56 billion in 2022, down from €70 billion in 2021.
- R&D investment by EU chemical firms totaled €11.8 billion in 2022, or 2.3% of turnover.
- Chemical sector's contribution to EU manufacturing value added was 19% in 2022.
- EU chemical market volume contracted 5.8% in 2023 to €520 billion amid recession fears.
- Specialty chemicals generated €190 billion in EU sales in 2022, 35% of total turnover.
- EU chemical industry profit margins fell to 4.2% in 2022 from 7.8% in 2021 due to costs.
- Investments in EU chemicals fixed assets amounted to €18 billion in 2022.
- EU chemical industry turnover in Germany was €210 billion in 2022, 38% of EU total.
- France chemical turnover €85 billion in 2022, with 5% decline.
- Netherlands chemicals sales €95 billion in 2022, boosted by exports.
- Belgium chemical industry revenue €60 billion in 2022.
- EU chemical EBITDA margins averaged 8.5% in 2023 Q1-Q3.
- Number of EU chemical companies: 30,000 in 2022, 95% SMEs.
- EU chemicals top 100 companies generated 75% of sector turnover in 2022.
- Chemical sector taxes paid in EU: €25 billion in 2022.
Market and Economic Statistics Interpretation
Despite absorbing a costly gut punch from energy inflation and recessionary fears in 2022, the EU's chemical sector, still a vital and profitable juggernaut, proved its resilience by adding over €200 billion in value and funding its future with nearly €12 billion in R&D.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, the EU chemical industry produced 295 million tonnes of chemicals, a decrease of 6.3% from 2021 due to high energy costs.
- EU-27 chemical production index stood at 92.6 in 2023 (2015=100), reflecting a 7.4% decline from 2022 amid economic slowdown.
- Basic chemicals output in the EU reached 142 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 48% of total chemical production.
- Specialty chemicals production in EU-27 was 58 million tonnes in 2022, up 2.1% from previous year despite market challenges.
- EU petrochemicals production volume hit 62 million tonnes in 2022, down 11% year-on-year due to feedstock shortages.
- In Q4 2023, EU chemical industry capacity utilization rate averaged 74%, the lowest since 2020 lockdowns.
- EU plastics production totaled 55 million tonnes in 2022, representing 19% of overall chemical output.
- Inorganic chemicals production in EU was 25 million tonnes in 2022, stable compared to 2021 levels.
- EU-27 chemical production grew by 4.2% in 2019 before pandemic, peaking at 330 million tonnes.
- Downstream chemicals accounted for 70 million tonnes of EU production in 2022, with 3% growth in pharmaceuticals.
- EU-27 chemical production index (2015=100) was 98.2 in January 2024, up 1.5% from December 2023.
- Polymers production in EU totaled 62 million tonnes in 2022, including 28mt polyethylene.
- EU fertilizers production was 10.2 million tonnes in 2022, down 20% due to gas crisis.
- Paints and coatings output in EU reached 12 million tonnes in 2022.
- EU detergents production volume was 8.5 million tonnes in 2022, stable yoy.
- Synthetic rubber production in EU: 1.8 million tonnes in 2022, down 5%.
- EU man-made fibres production hit 3.2 million tonnes in 2022.
- Adhesives and sealants production: 2.4 million tonnes in EU 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
The EU chemical industry is currently a patient with a complex diagnosis: its vital specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals are showing promising growth, but the overall body is weakened by anemic production, shockingly low capacity use, and a severe energy headache that has hit its basic petrochemicals and fertilizers particularly hard.
Trade Statistics
- EU chemical exports totaled €225 billion in 2022, with 85% intra-EU trade.
- Chemical imports to EU reached €169 billion in 2022, leading from China at €45 billion.
- EU's largest chemical export markets in 2022: USA €30bn, China €25bn, Switzerland €15bn.
- Plastics exports from EU hit €52 billion in 2022, up 5% year-on-year.
- EU pharmaceutical chemicals trade surplus was €42 billion in 2022.
- Basic chemicals exports from EU: 110 million tonnes in 2022, 60% to non-EU markets.
- EU chemical trade balance with Asia narrowed to €20 billion surplus in 2022 from €30bn.
- Specialty chemicals imports to EU grew 12% to €35 billion in 2022 from emerging markets.
- EU-US chemical trade volume reached €80 billion in 2022, with EU surplus of €15bn.
- Organic chemicals dominated EU exports at 45% share, €101 billion in 2022.
- EU exported chemicals to 180 countries in 2022, covering 95% of global markets.
- EU chemical exports to UK: €20 billion in 2022 post-Brexit.
- Exports to Turkey from EU chemicals: €12 billion in 2022.
- EU imports from US chemicals: €25 billion in 2022.
- Chemical trade with India: EU surplus €8 billion in 2022.
- Norway chemical imports from EU: €10 billion in 2022.
- EU specialty chemicals exports: €85 billion in 2022.
- Plastics trade surplus EU: €18 billion in 2022.
- EU fertilizers exports: 4.5 million tonnes in 2022.
Trade Statistics Interpretation
While Europe’s chemical heart beats strongly at home with 85% of its trade, its arteries now pulse more urgently outward, as its once-massive Asian surplus shrinks, its plastic output grows, and a hungry world—especially China—increasingly supplies the very specialty ingredients Europe needs to maintain its formidable pharmaceutical and export dominance.
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