Germany’s chemical industry shapes the wider economy through value creation and demand for supplier services, not just factory output. In 2022 it produced 232.5 billion euros in total production value and generated 225 billion euros in sales, while direct employment reached 554,000 people. Innovation is a central theme too: R&D spending rose to 8.9 billion euros in 2022 and patents totaled 4,200 in 2022, alongside ongoing investment and export strength.
Key Takeaways
- Chemical industry contributes 6.5% to Germany's GDP in 2022
- Value added by chemicals: 95 billion euros in 2022
- Supplier industries supported: 2.5 million jobs indirectly in 2022
- In 2022, the German chemical industry employed 554,000 people directly
- Chemical sector added 12,000 jobs in R&D between 2015 and 2022
- Women make up 28% of the chemical workforce in Germany in 2023
- Total chemical industry sales in Germany were 225 billion euros in 2022
- EBITDA margin for chemical firms averaged 12.4% in 2022
- Investments in the chemical sector totaled 12.8 billion euros in 2022
- In 2022, the German chemical industry achieved a total production value of 232.5 billion euros
- Chemical production in Germany declined by 6.2% in 2022 compared to 2021
- Specialty chemicals accounted for 38% of total German chemical production in 2022
- German chemical industry R&D spending increased to 9.1 billion euros in 2023
- 6.4% of sales invested in R&D in 2022, highest in manufacturing
- 110,000 R&D employees in chemicals in 2022
In 2022 Germany’s chemical industry powered GDP growth with rising R&D and exports despite a production dip.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact19 stats
01
Chemical industry contributes 6.5% to Germany's GDP in 2022
02
Value added by chemicals: 95 billion euros in 2022
03
Supplier industries supported: 2.5 million jobs indirectly in 2022
04
Export contribution to GDP from chemicals: 2.1% in 2022
05
Tax revenue generated: 28 billion euros in 2022
06
Regional GDP share in NRW: 12% from chemicals in 2022
07
Cluster effect: 1 euro chemical sales creates 2.8 euros downstream value
08
Energy consumption share: 7% of Germany's total in 2022
09
SME share in chemical sector: 2,200 firms, 25% of sales in 2022
10
Investment multiplier: 1:3 for chemical capex in 2022
11
Trade balance contribution: 1.5% of national surplus in 2022
12
Chemical intensity in manufacturing: 15% of inputs in 2022
13
Automotive supplier value from chemicals: 40 billion euros in 2022
14
Construction sector chemicals use: 25 billion euros in 2022
15
Agri-chemical impact on farm output: +20% productivity gain
16
Health sector reliance: 80% of drugs contain German chemicals in 2022
17
Sustainability investments create 50,000 green jobs by 2030 projection
18
Digital transformation adds 10 billion euros value by 2025 forecast
19
Pandemic resilience: chemicals supplied 95% of PPE needs in 2020-2022
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
In Germany’s economic impact picture, the chemical industry is a major GDP pillar with chemicals contributing 6.5% to GDP in 2022 and driving 2.5 million indirect jobs, underscoring how this sector generates broad value far beyond the factories themselves.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics27 stats
01
In 2022, the German chemical industry employed 554,000 people directly
02
Chemical sector added 12,000 jobs in R&D between 2015 and 2022
03
Women make up 28% of the chemical workforce in Germany in 2023
04
Average salary in German chemical industry was 72,500 euros gross in 2022
05
45% of chemical employees have university degrees in 2022
06
Apprenticeships in chemicals numbered 28,000 in 2022
07
Chemical industry unemployment rate was 2.1% in 2022, below national average
08
112,000 people employed in pharmaceuticals subsector in 2022
09
Plastics industry employs 217,000 in Germany in 2022
10
Rubber sector workforce was 85,000 in 2021
11
Paints and coatings employ 45,000 people in 2022
12
18% of chemical jobs are in Eastern Germany in 2022
13
STEM graduates in chemicals rose 15% from 2018-2022
14
Part-time employment in chemicals is 22% of workforce in 2023
15
Foreign workers comprise 22% of chemical employees in 2022
16
Age group 30-50 years holds 55% of chemical jobs in 2022
17
R&D staff in chemicals totals 110,000 in 2022
18
Training investment per employee was 1,850 euros in 2022
19
Job openings in chemicals averaged 25,000 annually 2021-2023
20
Shift workers make up 35% of production staff in 2022
21
Digital skills training covered 40% of workforce in 2023
22
Union membership in chemicals is 65% in 2022
23
Sick leave rate was 4.2% in chemical industry 2022
24
Overtime hours averaged 120 per employee yearly in 2022
25
New hires in 2022 totaled 48,000 in chemicals
26
Turnover rate in chemical firms was 5.8% in 2022
27
Disability employment quota met at 6.1% in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
In Germany’s chemical industry employment, the workforce totals 554,000 people in 2022 while women account for 28% in 2023 and 45% of employees hold university degrees, indicating both sizable staffing and a strongly qualified talent profile alongside steady growth in R&D jobs.
03 · Category
Financial Performance24 stats
01
Total chemical industry sales in Germany were 225 billion euros in 2022
02
EBITDA margin for chemical firms averaged 12.4% in 2022
03
Investments in the chemical sector totaled 12.8 billion euros in 2022
04
R&D expenditure reached 8.9 billion euros in 2022 (4.0% of sales)
05
Profit before tax in chemicals: 18.5 billion euros in 2022
06
BASF SE revenue from chemicals: 68 billion euros in 2022
07
Bayer AG chemical sales: 12.4 billion euros in 2022
08
Evonik Industries turnover: 18.9 billion euros in 2022
09
Covestro revenue: 17.8 billion euros in 2022
10
LANXESS sales: 10.1 billion euros in 2022
11
Chemical industry tax contributions: 25 billion euros in 2022
12
Equity ratio in chemical companies: 42% average in 2022
13
Cost of materials share of sales: 58% in 2022
14
Personnel costs per employee: 72,500 euros in 2022
15
Depreciation ratio: 4.2% of sales in 2022
16
Sales per employee: 406,000 euros in 2022
17
Return on capital employed (ROCE): 11.8% in 2022
18
Net financial debt: 45 billion euros sector-wide in 2022
19
Dividend payouts by top chemical firms: 5.2 billion euros in 2022
20
Price increase in chemical sales: 18.5% in 2022
21
Volume decline impact on sales: -10% in 2022
22
Specialty chemicals sales share: 36% of total in 2022
23
Commodity chemicals sales: 110 billion euros in 2022
24
Energy costs share rose to 8% of total costs in 2022
Interpretation
Financial Performance Interpretation
Germany’s chemical industry delivered strong financial momentum in 2022 with total sales of 225 billion euros and profit before tax of 18.5 billion euros, supported by a solid 12.4% EBITDA margin.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022, the German chemical industry achieved a total production value of 232.5 billion euros
02
Chemical production in Germany declined by 6.2% in 2022 compared to 2021
03
Specialty chemicals accounted for 38% of total German chemical production in 2022
04
Germany produced 55.6 million tons of chemicals in 2021
05
Basic chemicals production volume in Germany reached 26.3 million tons in 2022
06
Pharmaceuticals production in the chemical sector grew by 4.1% in 2022 to 52 billion euros
07
Polymer production in Germany totaled 14.8 million tons in 2021
08
Inorganic basic chemicals output was 9.2 million tons in 2022
09
German chemical industry capacity utilization rate was 78% in 2022
10
Petrochemicals production declined by 8.5% in 2022
11
In Q1 2023, chemical production fell 12.4% year-over-year
12
Man-made fibers production volume was 1.1 million tons in 2021
13
Explosives and pyrotechnics output reached 0.3 million tons in 2022
14
Paints and varnishes production value was 12.4 billion euros in 2022
15
Fertilizers production in Germany was 5.8 million tons in 2021
16
Detergents production volume stood at 2.4 million tons in 2022
17
The chemical industry produced 4.2 million tons of adhesives in 2021
18
Rubber products output value reached 18.7 billion euros in 2022
19
Plastic primary forms production was 15.2 million tons in 2022
20
In 2020, chemical production index was 102.5 (2015=100)
21
Bio-based chemicals production share was 12% in 2022
22
Hydrogen production for chemicals reached 2.1 million tons in 2022
23
Ammonia production volume was 3.5 million tons in 2021
24
Ethylene production capacity in Germany is 4.8 million tons annually
25
Propylene output was 3.2 million tons in 2022
26
Benzene production reached 2.9 million tons in 2021
27
Polyethylene production volume was 4.1 million tons in 2022
28
Polypropylene output stood at 3.7 million tons in 2021
29
PVC production in Germany was 1.8 million tons in 2022
30
Polystyrene production volume reached 1.4 million tons in 2021
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
In the production statistics for Germany’s chemical industry, 2022 production totaled 232.5 billion euros while output fell 6.2% year on year, yet specialty chemicals still made up 38% of production and pharmaceuticals rose 4.1% to 52 billion euros.
05 · Category
R&d Statistics23 stats
01
German chemical industry R&D spending increased to 9.1 billion euros in 2023
02
6.4% of sales invested in R&D in 2022, highest in manufacturing
03
110,000 R&D employees in chemicals in 2022
04
Patents filed by German chemical firms: 4,200 in 2022
05
EU-funded chemical projects: 1.2 billion euros in Horizon 2020-2022
06
25% of chemical R&D focuses on sustainability in 2023
07
Digitalization R&D investments: 1.8 billion euros in 2022
08
Biotech R&D in chemicals: 2.1 billion euros annually
09
New products from R&D: 18% of sales in 2022
10
University collaborations: 450 active in 2022
11
CO2 reduction projects funded: 500 million euros in 2022
12
AI applications in chemical R&D piloted by 40% of firms in 2023
13
Battery chemicals R&D spend: 800 million euros in 2022
14
Hydrogen technology patents: 350 from German chemicals in 2022
15
Circular economy R&D projects: 120 ongoing in 2023
16
Pharma R&D in Germany: 7.5 billion euros in 2022
17
Material science innovations: 1,200 publications from chemical R&D in 2022
18
Venture capital in chemical startups: 450 million euros in 2022
19
Lab space for R&D: 15 million sqm in 2022
20
Female researchers in chemical R&D: 32% in 2023
21
Open innovation platforms used by 65% of firms in 2022
22
Simulation software R&D spend: 300 million euros in 2022
23
Climate-neutral processes R&D: 1.5 billion euros targeted by 2030
Interpretation
R&d Statistics Interpretation
Germany’s chemical industry is clearly doubling down on R&D, with spending rising to 9.1 billion euros in 2023 and 25% of chemical R&D aimed at sustainability in the same year, while 110,000 R&D employees and 4,200 patents in 2022 show sustained innovation capacity.
06 · Category
Trade Statistics25 stats
01
Germany's chemical exports reached 106 billion euros in 2022
02
Chemical imports to Germany totaled 85 billion euros in 2022
03
Chemical trade surplus was 21 billion euros in 2022
04
Top export destination for chemicals: USA with 12.5 billion euros in 2022
05
China imported 11.2 billion euros of German chemicals in 2022
06
EU countries took 62% of German chemical exports in 2022
07
Plastics exports from Germany: 28 billion euros in 2022
08
Pharmaceutical exports hit 72 billion euros in 2022
09
Organic chemicals export value was 45 billion euros in 2022
10
Inorganic chemicals exports: 8.7 billion euros in 2022
11
Chemical exports to Netherlands: 10.4 billion euros in 2022
12
Exports of fertilizers from Germany: 4.2 billion euros in 2021
13
Paints exports reached 5.6 billion euros in 2022
14
Rubber products exports: 12.3 billion euros in 2022
15
Chemical export growth to Asia was 3.2% in 2022 despite global decline
16
US market share of German chemicals exports rose to 12% in 2022
17
Imports from China: 18 billion euros in chemicals 2022
18
Trade volume with France in chemicals: 15.8 billion euros in 2022
19
Specialty chemicals exports grew 2.1% to 40 billion euros in 2022
20
Export price index for chemicals rose 22% in 2022
21
Chemical imports from USA: 7.4 billion euros in 2022
22
Italy imported 8.9 billion euros of German chemicals in 2022
23
Chemical exports via sea freight: 55% of total volume in 2022
24
Trade balance in pharmaceuticals: +55 billion euros in 2022
25
UK's chemical imports from Germany: 6.7 billion euros post-Brexit 2022
Interpretation
Trade Statistics Interpretation
Germany’s chemical sector saw a strong 21 billion euros trade surplus in 2022, driven by exports of 106 billion euros and a heavy EU-driven pull where EU countries accounted for 62% of outbound chemical trade.
Reference
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Germany Chemical Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-chemical-industry-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Germany Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-chemical-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Germany Chemical Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-chemical-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level