1. European Chemical Industry: Cefic Chemicals Trends Report (CTR)
Cefic Industrial Policy Programme
12 October 2017
Dr Moncef HADHRI, Cefic Industrial Policy,
Economic Affairs,

2. Business* situation has improved while prospects for the coming months were slightly less optimistic
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)
The chemical business situation at present became more favourable in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the Q However prospects for the coming months were slightly less optimistic during the same period.
All in all, business climate remained good and improved slightly in Q
Business confidence showed a slight decline but is still above the long-term average.

3. EU chemicals* output: Significant growth in 2017
Output in the EU chemicals sector grew 3.3% from January to July 2017 (y-o-y),
Output rose in most chemicals sub-sectors. Production saw a significant increase in crop protection (5.5%), basic inorganics (4.4%), dyes and pigments (4.1%), polymers (3.8%), and consumer chemicals (3.3%). Less significant output growth for specialty chemicals (2.0%) was recorded.
Output in chemicals is 2.3% below the first quarter of 2008.

4. Chemicals* output was above the previous year’s level in most sub-sectors
Output rose in most chemicals sub-sectors. Petrochemicals is the only exception, where output went down 1.1 per cent during Jan-July 2017 (y-o-y).
*Production figures on chemicals sectors are not comparable; they did not have the same degree of country coverage.

5. Chemicals* prices were above the previous year’s level
Producer prices were above the previous year’s level, also in a twelve-month comparison (+5.4%, Jan-July (2017 vs 2016). Most chemicals sectors posted positive growth on prices. “Petrochemicals” saw impressive price growth (14.1%), “dyes and pigments” (4.7%) and “polymers” (4.3%) more modest price growth.

6. Chemicals. employment grew 1
Chemicals* employment grew 1.1 per cent from January to June 2017 (y-o-y)

7. Chemicals* trade surplus went up by €3.1 billion through June 2017
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)

8. Summary of Key findings*: Top Indicators
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)

9. A1. Chemicals* output growth (year-on-year)
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)

10. A2. Chemicals* prices growth (year-on-year)
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)

11. EU chemicals* sales by sub-sector (year 2016)
*Chemicals excluding pharmaceuticals (Nace 20)