While Europe's skies might conjure images of medieval castles and Renaissance art, beneath its surface hums a colossal industrial machine that produced a staggering 347 million tonnes of chemicals in 2022, powering economies from Germany's powerhouse factories to Ireland's pharmaceutical hubs and shaping everything from our plastics and paints to our vital medicines.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the European chemical industry produced 347 million tonnes of chemicals, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021
- Germany's chemical production output reached 58.2 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 16.8% of the EU total
- The EU-27 chemical industry output grew by 4.1% in volume terms in 2023 compared to 2022
- EU chemical industry generated €546 billion in sales revenue in 2022, down 9% from 2021 peak
- Germany's chemical sales reached €223 billion in 2022, representing 41% of EU total
- France chemical industry revenue was €85.4 billion in 2021
- In 2022, EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly
- Germany chemical sector provided 555,000 direct jobs in 2022
- France employed 170,000 in chemicals in 2021
- EU chemical industry reduced CO2 emissions by 74% since 1990 per tonne of output in 2022
- 98% of EU chemical production sites had ISO 14001 certification in 2022
- EU chemicals recycled 9.8 million tonnes of plastics in 2022, 33% recycling rate
- EU exports of chemicals reached €257 billion in 2022
- EU chemical imports totaled €200 billion in 2022, yielding €57 billion surplus
- Germany exported €110 billion in chemicals in 2022
The European chemical industry grew significantly in 2023, with diverse outputs across major member states.
Employment
- In 2022, EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly
- Germany chemical sector provided 555,000 direct jobs in 2022
- France employed 170,000 in chemicals in 2021
- Belgium chemical industry jobs totaled 88,000 in 2022
- Netherlands had 93,000 chemical workers in 2023
- Italy chemical employment was 152,000 in 2022
- Spain employed 70,000 in chemicals in 2023
- Poland chemical jobs reached 105,000 in 2022
- EU chemical industry supported 3.3 million indirect jobs in 2022
- 28% of EU chemical workforce was female in 2022
- Average EU chemical sector wage was €55,000 annually in 2022
- Finland chemical employment 20,000 in 2022
- Austria had 28,000 chemical jobs in 2023
- Sweden employed 32,000 in chemicals in 2022
- Czech Republic chemical workers 45,000 in 2023
- Hungary chemical employment 35,000 in 2022
- Slovakia had 22,000 chemical jobs in 2023
- Denmark chemical sector employed 15,000 in 2022
- Ireland 48,000 chemical jobs in 2023
- Portugal chemical employment 25,000 in 2022
- Greece had 12,000 chemical workers in 2023
- Romania chemical jobs 40,000 in 2022
- Bulgaria employed 18,000 in chemicals in 2023
- EU chemical apprenticeships numbered 60,000 in 2022
- 15% of EU chemical jobs required STEM qualifications in 2022
- Chemical industry turnover per employee in EU averaged €455,000 in 2022
Employment Interpretation
While Germany single-handedly anchors the continent's chemical workforce like an overachieving beaker-holding anchor, the true alchemy of the EU industry is found in its ability to distill the economic contributions of 1.2 million direct and 3.3 million indirect jobs into a potent €455,000 of turnover per employee, proving that chemistry's greatest reaction is catalyzing prosperity, albeit one still working on a better gender balance formula.
Production
- In 2022, the European chemical industry produced 347 million tonnes of chemicals, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021
- Germany's chemical production output reached 58.2 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 16.8% of the EU total
- The EU-27 chemical industry output grew by 4.1% in volume terms in 2023 compared to 2022
- France produced 12.4 million tonnes of basic chemicals in 2021, up 3% from the previous year
- Belgium's chemical sector output was 14.7 million tonnes in 2022, with specialty chemicals comprising 45%
- In 2023, the Netherlands chemical production hit 18.9 million tonnes, driven by petrochemicals at 62%
- Italy's chemical output stood at 10.2 million tonnes in 2022, with polymers at 35% share
- Spain produced 8.1 million tonnes of chemicals in 2023, increasing by 5.2% YoY
- Poland's chemical industry output reached 7.3 million tonnes in 2022, focused on fertilizers at 28%
- The EU pharmaceutical chemicals production was 45.6 million tonnes in 2021
- In Q4 2023, EU plastics production volume was 12.1 million tonnes, down 1.8% from Q4 2022
- Finland's chemical output included 2.1 million tonnes of petrochemicals in 2022
- Austria produced 3.4 million tonnes of specialty chemicals in 2023
- Sweden's chemical industry output was 4.2 million tonnes in 2022, with 22% bio-based
- Czech Republic chemical production totaled 5.6 million tonnes in 2023
- Hungary's output reached 3.8 million tonnes in 2022, led by pharmaceuticals at 40%
- Slovakia produced 2.9 million tonnes of chemicals in 2023
- Denmark's chemical sector output was 1.7 million tonnes in 2022
- Ireland chemical production hit 4.5 million tonnes in 2023, pharma dominant at 75%
- Portugal produced 1.2 million tonnes in 2022
- Greece's output was 0.9 million tonnes in 2023
- Romania chemical production reached 2.4 million tonnes in 2022
- Bulgaria produced 1.1 million tonnes in 2023
- EU inorganic basic chemicals production was 28.4 million tonnes in 2022
- Organic basic chemicals output in EU hit 110.2 million tonnes in 2022
- EU detergents production volume was 7.8 million tonnes in 2021
- In 2022, EU paint and varnish production reached 9.3 million tonnes
- EU man-made fibres output was 3.2 million tonnes in 2023
- Adhesives and sealants production in EU totaled 2.6 million tonnes in 2022
Production Interpretation
While Germany remains the continent's chemical workhorse, the overall European industry is a surprisingly sprightful giant, steadily bulking up year-on-year even as it subtly shifts its composition, from Poland's fertilizer focus to Ireland's pharmaceutical dominance, proving that this old-sector backbone is both growing and getting smarter about what it makes.
Revenue
- EU chemical industry generated €546 billion in sales revenue in 2022, down 9% from 2021 peak
- Germany's chemical sales reached €223 billion in 2022, representing 41% of EU total
- France chemical industry revenue was €85.4 billion in 2021
- Belgium's chemical sales hit €68 billion in 2022
- Netherlands chemical revenue stood at €92 billion in 2023
- Italy's chemical industry sales were €55 billion in 2022
- Spain chemical sales reached €42 billion in 2023, up 6% YoY
- Poland chemical revenue was €28 billion in 2022
- EU specialty chemicals sales accounted for €190 billion in 2022, 35% of total
- Basic chemicals revenue in EU was €210 billion in 2022
- EU petrochemicals sales hit €150 billion in 2022
- Pharmaceuticals revenue from chemicals in EU reached €120 billion in 2021
- Finland chemical sales were €12 billion in 2022
- Austria's chemical revenue stood at €18 billion in 2023
- Sweden chemical industry sales €22 billion in 2022
- Czech Republic chemical sales €15 billion in 2023
- Hungary chemical revenue €14 billion in 2022
- Slovakia chemical sales €9 billion in 2023
- Denmark chemical revenue €8.5 billion in 2022
- Ireland chemical sales €35 billion in 2023
- Portugal chemical revenue €6 billion in 2022
- Greece chemical sales €4.2 billion in 2023
- Romania chemical revenue €10 billion in 2022
- Bulgaria chemical sales €5 billion in 2023
- EU chemical industry added €180 billion to GDP in 2022 via direct and indirect contributions
- Chemical sector trade surplus in EU was €57 billion in 2022
- EU chemicals R&D spending reached €32 billion in 2022, 5.9% of sales
Revenue Interpretation
While Germany continues to be the continent's chemical workhorse, pulling nearly half the weight in a €546 billion cart that hit a post-pandemic pothole in 2022, the entire industry proves its indispensable, high-value mettle by still fueling a massive trade surplus and ploughing a robust 6% of its sales back into the R&D that will determine Europe's future competitiveness.
Sustainability
- EU chemical industry reduced CO2 emissions by 74% since 1990 per tonne of output in 2022
- 98% of EU chemical production sites had ISO 14001 certification in 2022
- EU chemicals recycled 9.8 million tonnes of plastics in 2022, 33% recycling rate
- Chemical industry energy efficiency improved by 45% since 1990 in EU
- EU chemical water usage per tonne of output down 72% since 1990 in 2022
- 25% of EU chemical feedstocks were bio-based or circular in 2023
- EU chemical industry invested €4.5 billion in sustainability projects in 2022
- Zero waste to landfill achieved by 70% of EU chemical companies in 2022
- EU chemicals NOx emissions reduced 92% since 1990 per tonne in 2022
- SOx emissions down 98% since 1990 per tonne in EU chemicals 2022
- EU chemical industry renewable energy use reached 22% of total in 2022
- 85% of EU chemical products registered under REACH by 2023
- EU chemical hazardous waste reduced 60% since 2004 in 2022
- Biodiversity projects funded by EU chemicals totaled 150 initiatives in 2022
- EU chemical carbon capture utilization at 5 million tonnes CO2 in 2023
- Water recycling rate in EU chemical plants 65% in 2022
- EU chemical industry Scope 1+2 emissions 115 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
- 40% reduction target for GHG intensity by 2030 set by Cefic members
Sustainability Interpretation
While the European chemical industry has been admirably cleaning up its own backyard with impressive efficiency gains and sharply reduced emissions per tonne, the sheer scale of its production still leaves it as a major, albeit more responsible, contributor to Europe's total industrial footprint.
Trade
- EU exports of chemicals reached €257 billion in 2022
- EU chemical imports totaled €200 billion in 2022, yielding €57 billion surplus
- Germany exported €110 billion in chemicals in 2022
- Netherlands chemical exports €85 billion in 2023
- Belgium chemical exports €70 billion in 2022
- France chemical exports €60 billion in 2021
- Italy exported €38 billion chemicals in 2022
- Spain chemical exports €25 billion in 2023
- Poland chemical exports €18 billion in 2022
- 55% of EU chemical sales exported in 2022
- Top export destination USA with €35 billion from EU chemicals in 2022
- China imported €28 billion EU chemicals in 2022
- EU specialty chemicals exports €100 billion in 2022
- Pharmaceuticals exports from EU €90 billion in 2021
- Finland chemical exports €7 billion in 2022
- Austria exports €12 billion chemicals in 2023
- Sweden chemical exports €15 billion in 2022
- Czech Republic chemical exports €10 billion in 2023
- Hungary exports €11 billion chemicals in 2022
Trade Interpretation
Europe's chemical industry, proving it’s a potent economic engine, not just a pungent odor, ran a hefty €57 billion trade surplus in 2022 by exporting over half its production—led by Germany's juggernaut €110 billion output—with everything from Belgian polymers to French pharmaceuticals fueling the world, especially the wallets of American and Chinese buyers.
Sources & References
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