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Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Robert Maier Robert Maier Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: October 2024 WZ C20.59DE

Revenue

€32.6bn

2024

€32.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€X.Xbn

Employees

41,219

Businesses

273

Wages

€X.Xbn

Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany industry analysis

The companies in the speciality chemicals sector manufacture complex chemical products, usually tailored to customer-specific requirements, such as chemical catalysts, which are essential for carrying out other chemical processes or for achieving certain material properties. Over the last five years, the industry has achieved average annual sales growth of 4%. However, the earnings situation of many industry players became increasingly gloomy in the second half of the period due to the macroeconomic impact of external influences such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The resulting temporary energy shortage weighed heavily on the industrial economy and at the same time caused raw material and energy prices in Europe to rise significantly. As a result, the industry, which was still able to expand its production in 2021 and whose sales are heavily dependent on the economic situation in the chemical industry and the rest of the manufacturing sector, has recorded significant declines in sales over the past two years.The industry is not expected to recover in the current year either. Although supply-side bottlenecks, which hampered the economy in the years between 2021 and 2023, are becoming less significant and prices for electricity and key energy sources such as natural gas and crude oil are below the level of 2022, energy costs remain high by international standards. Demand from other areas of the chemical industry and the manufacturing sector is therefore likely to remain weak in the current year. Total turnover in the speciality chemicals industry is expected to amount to €32.6 billion, which corresponds to a decline of 4% compared to the previous year.IBISWorld expects the industry to grow slightly over the next five years, driven by increasing specialisation in the German chemical landscape in a changing international market for chemical products. In future, there is likely to be an increasing relocation of production capacities to growth markets abroad, particularly in the field of basic chemicals. German chemical sites, on the other hand, will increasingly focus on the production of research-intensive and higher-value speciality chemicals. For the period from 2024 to 2029, IBISWorld expects average annual growth of 1.8% and industry turnover of EUR 35.7 billion in 2029.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry is operating in an increasingly challenging market environment. Higher production costs and the overall economic slowdown are dampening demand in terms of volume and causing the earnings situation of many players to deteriorate.
  • The majority of the industry's turnover is generated with compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents. In recent years, the production of biodiesel has also gained in importance thanks to government subsidies.
  • The Central region is home to by far the most speciality chemicals companies. The densely populated and economically strong region is a centre of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry, German heavy industry and mechanical, plant and automotive engineering, which are important customer groups for speciality chemicals producers.
  • The industry is dominated by medium-sized chemical companies that have specialised in certain products and markets. The industry players primarily achieve competitive advantages through innovative products that are precisely tailored to customer needs.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €32.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The activities of the industry participants are largely attributable to the fine and speciality chemicals sector

  • In contrast to basic or commodity chemistry, which produces simple and standardised chemical compounds on an industrial scale, companies that manufacture speciality chemicals produce products with comparatively high added value.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Emerging chemical producers in Asia are likely to put pressure on domestic manufacturers

  • In the next five years, competition on the global chemicals markets is likely to intensify further. The global spread of advanced production technologies has drastically reduced Germany's technological lead in some areas.

Biggest companies in the Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
BASF SE
5,123.0
Lanxess AG
2,598.0
Evonik Industries AG
1,715.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents, Catalysts and Lubricants, oil additives, brake fluids, antifreeze. Compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents is the largest segment of the Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Compounded diagnostic and laboratory reagents are used in pharmacy and medicine as well as in other industrial sectors

  • These products are diagnostic and laboratory reagents that have been applied to a carrier material such as paper and manufactured as an assembled test kit or are available in the form of special preparations and as certified reference material.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The companies in the sector are mainly active in fine and speciality chemicals and produce various additives and auxiliary materials such as plasticisers, stabilisers and catalysts for use and further processing in the plastics and metal industries, the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and other branches of industry. However, products for end consumers such as biodiesel and ink are also part of the sector's portfolio.

What's included in this industry?

Compound diagnostic and laboratory reagentsCatalystsLubricants, mineral and lubricating oil additives, brake fluids, antifreezeBiodieselPreparations for foundry applications and electroplatingChemical auxiliaries for the textile, wood and paper industries

Companies

BASF SELanxess AGEvonik Industries AG

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CHARGE PROCESSADDITIVESPECIALITY CHEMISTRYBASIC CHEMISTRYSYNTHESIS

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 20.59 - Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry is operating in an increasingly challenging market environment. Higher production costs and the overall economic slowdown are dampening demand in terms of volume...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The majority of the industry's turnover is generated with compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents. In recent years, the production of biodiesel has also gained in importa...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Central region is home to by far the most speciality chemicals companies. The densely populated and economically strong region is a centre of the pharmaceutical and chemi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry is dominated by medium-sized chemical companies that have specialised in certain products and markets. The industry players primarily achieve competitive advanta...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

In the Specialty Additives division, Lanxess bundles all areas that produce additives. This division has been greatly expanded in recent years through the acquisition of the ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of BASF SE's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Lanxess AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Evonik Industries AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for BASF SE, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lanxess AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Evonik Industries AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The sector is benefiting from the resurgence in industrial production. The manufacture of many industrial and consumer goods as well as medical and pharmaceutical products is...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The cost of materials is the biggest cost factor in the industry. Increased raw material and energy prices have recently driven up material costs.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany is €32.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 273 businesses in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Chemical Product Manufacturing market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Chemical Product Manufacturing market in Germany are BASF SE, Lanxess AG and Evonik Industries AG

What does the Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany include?

Compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents and Catalysts are part of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is BASF SE.

How competitive is the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in Germany
  • Organic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in Germany

International industries

  • Global Fertilizers & Agricultural Chemicals Manufacturing
  • Chemical Product Manufacturing in the US
  • Chemical Product Manufacturing in Canada
  • Chemical Product Manufacturing in the UK
  • Industrial Gas & Basic Chemical Manufacturing in China

View all industries in Germany

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.