Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £2.7bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Speciality chemicals offer UK manufacturers protection from volatile energy prices
- ONS data shows UK industrial electricity prices rocketed by 72% between Q4 2021 and Q4 2024, from 15.14p per kilowatt-hour to 25.97p per kilowatt-hour. The Smart Energy Company reports that prices dropped by 11.3% in Q3 2025 compared to Q2, offering manufacturers short-term relief. Even with this drop, industry profit remains squeezed by energy price fluctuations, global oversupply of basic materials (like soda ash) and strengthening imports from China, India and Turkey. Global oversupply drives prices down and erodes UK producers’ margins, making it tough to compete on cost. Cheaper imports from China, India and Turkey, where labour costs and energy costs are lower, squeeze UK manufacturers and take market share.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
US tariffs squeeze UK chemical exporters
- UK inorganic chemical manufacturers are set to face ongoing pressure from new US tariffs and heightened global competition. In April 2025, the US implemented a 10% tariff on UK inorganic chemical exports. This move is expected to constrain industry revenue for as long as it remains in place, as the US is a crucial market, accounting for £250 million in UK chemical exports in 2024, or 15% of all inorganic basic chemical exports, according to HMRC trade data. These headwinds add to existing challenges from high energy costs, smaller production scales and strict environmental regulations in the UK, making it harder to compete in bulk segments like caustic soda and soda ash.
Biggest companies in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (£m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Fisher Scientific UK Ltd | 286.0 | |
INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd | 263.0 | |
Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd | 116.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Silicon dioxide, Colloidal precious metals and Chlorine and other inorganic basic chemicals. Silicon dioxide is the largest segment of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Chlorine revenue strengthens amid water quality concerns and infrastructure investment
- This segment covers chlorine and its associated compounds, including caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), borates, hydrogen fluoride, potassium hydroxide and thiosulfates. These chemicals are primarily used in water treatment but also have a wide range of applications in cleaning, pharmaceuticals, textiles, paper and aluminium production.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in the industry manufacture a wide range of inorganic basic chemicals. These are compounds that typically don’t contain carbon-hydrogen bonds, distinguishing them from organic chemicals. They are often produced in bulk and involve the large-scale conversion of simple raw materials into feedstock. These are then used as intermediate inputs by other manufacturing industries, including other components of the chemical sector.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Colloidal precious metals, Chlorine and water treatment chemicals, Silicon dioxide, Sulphuric acid , Phosphoric acid, Hydrogen peroxide , Hydrochloric acid, Titanium dioxide and Sulphites.Companies
Companies covered in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Fisher Scientific UK Ltd, INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd and Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include inorganic basic chemicals, oxide and colloid.Industry Code
SIC 20.13 - Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK
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
Producers are pivoting to high-value chemicals to counter volatility. Manufacturers are improving revenue stability by focusing on pharmaceutical-grade and speciality product...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Rising costs threaten competitiveness. The 10% US tariff on UK inorganic chemicals like ethylene and propane will inflate export prices, making them less competitive against ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- 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
North West England anchors inorganic chemical production through legacy infrastructure. Established facilities in Cheshire and Merseyside, like Tata Chemicals and INEOS sites...
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
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
Vertical integration and niche specialisation are reshaping industry competition. Large manufacturers are concentrating supply through vertical integration, while smaller man...
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 2020-2025
- 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
Tata Chemicals Europe pivots from soda ash to premium bicarbonate. The shutdown of its soda ash plant, combined with investment in pharmaceutical-grade bicarbonate, lets Tata...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Fisher Scientific UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Fisher Scientific UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Post-Brexit regulations have raised compliance costs and global challenges. UK REACH and related health, safety and environmental rules have increased costs for inorganic che...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
Profit margins are squeezed by global competition and energy costs. Weakened pricing power, volatile energy prices, and fierce import competition from Asia have kept profitab...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2019-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2019-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2019-2023)
- Assets (2019-2023)
- Liabilities (2019-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
The market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £2.7bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 90 businesses in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom are Fisher Scientific UK Ltd, INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd and Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd
What does the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?
Colloidal precious metals and Chlorine and water treatment chemicals are part of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is Fisher Scientific UK Ltd.
How competitive is the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.
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 the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
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.
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