The EU chemical industry directly employs 1.2 million people and supports 3.3 million additional jobs through its supply chains. Output reached 347 million tonnes with sales generating a 57 billion euro trade surplus. Sustainability metrics show emissions per tonne down 74 percent from earlier baselines alongside rising output volumes.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly
- In 2022, the European chemical industry produced 347 million tonnes of chemicals, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021
- EU chemical industry generated €546 billion in sales revenue in 2022, down 9% from 2021 peak
- EU chemical industry reduced CO2 emissions by 74% since 1990 per tonne of output in 2022
- EU exports of chemicals reached €257 billion in 2022
European chemical companies drive innovation, with strong output and investment supporting jobs and sustainable growth.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment26 stats
01
In 2022, EU chemical industry employed 1.2 million people directly
02
Germany chemical sector provided 555,000 direct jobs in 2022
03
France employed 170,000 in chemicals in 2021
04
Belgium chemical industry jobs totaled 88,000 in 2022
05
Netherlands had 93,000 chemical workers in 2023
06
Italy chemical employment was 152,000 in 2022
07
Spain employed 70,000 in chemicals in 2023
08
Poland chemical jobs reached 105,000 in 2022
09
EU chemical industry supported 3.3 million indirect jobs in 2022
10
28% of EU chemical workforce was female in 2022
11
Average EU chemical sector wage was €55,000 annually in 2022
12
Finland chemical employment 20,000 in 2022
13
Austria had 28,000 chemical jobs in 2023
14
Sweden employed 32,000 in chemicals in 2022
15
Czech Republic chemical workers 45,000 in 2023
16
Hungary chemical employment 35,000 in 2022
17
Slovakia had 22,000 chemical jobs in 2023
18
Denmark chemical sector employed 15,000 in 2022
19
Ireland 48,000 chemical jobs in 2023
20
Portugal chemical employment 25,000 in 2022
21
Greece had 12,000 chemical workers in 2023
22
Romania chemical jobs 40,000 in 2022
23
Bulgaria employed 18,000 in chemicals in 2023
24
EU chemical apprenticeships numbered 60,000 in 2022
25
15% of EU chemical jobs required STEM qualifications in 2022
26
Chemical industry turnover per employee in EU averaged €455,000 in 2022
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Production29 stats
01
In 2022, the European chemical industry produced 347 million tonnes of chemicals, marking a 2.5% increase from 2021
02
Germany's chemical production output reached 58.2 million tonnes in 2022, accounting for 16.8% of the EU total
03
The EU-27 chemical industry output grew by 4.1% in volume terms in 2023 compared to 2022
04
France produced 12.4 million tonnes of basic chemicals in 2021, up 3% from the previous year
05
Belgium's chemical sector output was 14.7 million tonnes in 2022, with specialty chemicals comprising 45%
06
In 2023, the Netherlands chemical production hit 18.9 million tonnes, driven by petrochemicals at 62%
07
Italy's chemical output stood at 10.2 million tonnes in 2022, with polymers at 35% share
08
Spain produced 8.1 million tonnes of chemicals in 2023, increasing by 5.2% YoY
09
Poland's chemical industry output reached 7.3 million tonnes in 2022, focused on fertilizers at 28%
10
The EU pharmaceutical chemicals production was 45.6 million tonnes in 2021
11
In Q4 2023, EU plastics production volume was 12.1 million tonnes, down 1.8% from Q4 2022
12
Finland's chemical output included 2.1 million tonnes of petrochemicals in 2022
13
Austria produced 3.4 million tonnes of specialty chemicals in 2023
14
Sweden's chemical industry output was 4.2 million tonnes in 2022, with 22% bio-based
15
Czech Republic chemical production totaled 5.6 million tonnes in 2023
16
Hungary's output reached 3.8 million tonnes in 2022, led by pharmaceuticals at 40%
17
Slovakia produced 2.9 million tonnes of chemicals in 2023
18
Denmark's chemical sector output was 1.7 million tonnes in 2022
19
Ireland chemical production hit 4.5 million tonnes in 2023, pharma dominant at 75%
20
Portugal produced 1.2 million tonnes in 2022
21
Greece's output was 0.9 million tonnes in 2023
22
Romania chemical production reached 2.4 million tonnes in 2022
23
Bulgaria produced 1.1 million tonnes in 2023
24
EU inorganic basic chemicals production was 28.4 million tonnes in 2022
25
Organic basic chemicals output in EU hit 110.2 million tonnes in 2022
26
EU detergents production volume was 7.8 million tonnes in 2021
27
In 2022, EU paint and varnish production reached 9.3 million tonnes
28
EU man-made fibres output was 3.2 million tonnes in 2023
29
Adhesives and sealants production in EU totaled 2.6 million tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Revenue27 stats
01
EU chemical industry generated €546 billion in sales revenue in 2022, down 9% from 2021 peak
02
Germany's chemical sales reached €223 billion in 2022, representing 41% of EU total
03
France chemical industry revenue was €85.4 billion in 2021
04
Belgium's chemical sales hit €68 billion in 2022
05
Netherlands chemical revenue stood at €92 billion in 2023
06
Italy's chemical industry sales were €55 billion in 2022
07
Spain chemical sales reached €42 billion in 2023, up 6% YoY
08
Poland chemical revenue was €28 billion in 2022
09
EU specialty chemicals sales accounted for €190 billion in 2022, 35% of total
10
Basic chemicals revenue in EU was €210 billion in 2022
11
EU petrochemicals sales hit €150 billion in 2022
12
Pharmaceuticals revenue from chemicals in EU reached €120 billion in 2021
13
Finland chemical sales were €12 billion in 2022
14
Austria's chemical revenue stood at €18 billion in 2023
15
Sweden chemical industry sales €22 billion in 2022
16
Czech Republic chemical sales €15 billion in 2023
17
Hungary chemical revenue €14 billion in 2022
18
Slovakia chemical sales €9 billion in 2023
19
Denmark chemical revenue €8.5 billion in 2022
20
Ireland chemical sales €35 billion in 2023
21
Portugal chemical revenue €6 billion in 2022
22
Greece chemical sales €4.2 billion in 2023
23
Romania chemical revenue €10 billion in 2022
24
Bulgaria chemical sales €5 billion in 2023
25
EU chemical industry added €180 billion to GDP in 2022 via direct and indirect contributions
26
Chemical sector trade surplus in EU was €57 billion in 2022
27
EU chemicals R&D spending reached €32 billion in 2022, 5.9% of sales
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability18 stats
01
EU chemical industry reduced CO2 emissions by 74% since 1990 per tonne of output in 2022
02
98% of EU chemical production sites had ISO 14001 certification in 2022
03
EU chemicals recycled 9.8 million tonnes of plastics in 2022, 33% recycling rate
04
Chemical industry energy efficiency improved by 45% since 1990 in EU
05
EU chemical water usage per tonne of output down 72% since 1990 in 2022
06
25% of EU chemical feedstocks were bio-based or circular in 2023
07
EU chemical industry invested €4.5 billion in sustainability projects in 2022
08
Zero waste to landfill achieved by 70% of EU chemical companies in 2022
09
EU chemicals NOx emissions reduced 92% since 1990 per tonne in 2022
10
SOx emissions down 98% since 1990 per tonne in EU chemicals 2022
11
EU chemical industry renewable energy use reached 22% of total in 2022
12
85% of EU chemical products registered under REACH by 2023
13
EU chemical hazardous waste reduced 60% since 2004 in 2022
14
Biodiversity projects funded by EU chemicals totaled 150 initiatives in 2022
15
EU chemical carbon capture utilization at 5 million tonnes CO2 in 2023
16
Water recycling rate in EU chemical plants 65% in 2022
17
EU chemical industry Scope 1+2 emissions 115 million tonnes CO2e in 2022
18
40% reduction target for GHG intensity by 2030 set by Cefic members
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Trade19 stats
01
EU exports of chemicals reached €257 billion in 2022
02
EU chemical imports totaled €200 billion in 2022, yielding €57 billion surplus
03
Germany exported €110 billion in chemicals in 2022
04
Netherlands chemical exports €85 billion in 2023
05
Belgium chemical exports €70 billion in 2022
06
France chemical exports €60 billion in 2021
07
Italy exported €38 billion chemicals in 2022
08
Spain chemical exports €25 billion in 2023
09
Poland chemical exports €18 billion in 2022
10
55% of EU chemical sales exported in 2022
11
Top export destination USA with €35 billion from EU chemicals in 2022
12
China imported €28 billion EU chemicals in 2022
13
EU specialty chemicals exports €100 billion in 2022
14
Pharmaceuticals exports from EU €90 billion in 2021
15
Finland chemical exports €7 billion in 2022
16
Austria exports €12 billion chemicals in 2023
17
Sweden chemical exports €15 billion in 2022
18
Czech Republic chemical exports €10 billion in 2023
19
Hungary exports €11 billion chemicals in 2022
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). European Chemicals Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/european-chemicals-industry-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "European Chemicals Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/european-chemicals-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "European Chemicals Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/european-chemicals-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level