René Muschter
Research Expert covering Industry & Mobility
Chemical industry in Germany - statistics & facts
The German chemical industry is the third-largest chemical market worldwide, following China and the United States, with a total revenue of over 200 billion euros in 2024. Including pharmaceuticals, the combined industry revenue amounted to about 223 billion euros, representing a decline of more than three billion euros compared to the previous year. The decline is, however, largely attributed to the chemical industry, which saw production fall by about 2.5 percent from 2024 to 2025. Pharmaceutical production climbed by about three percent, leading to a net negative development of the combined industry in 2025. Within the EU, Germany remains the dominant force, accounting for roughly one-third of the European Union's total chemical sales in 2024 and employing around 401,000 people in its chemical industry alone. Yet, the overall trajectory points downward: revenue, production, and employment all declined in 2025, with employment decreasing by about five percent compared to 2024, despite declining producer prices. As a key supplier of the domestic manufacturing industry, the chemical industry is further impacted by the stagnation of German industrial production.
