Portrait

The chemical-pharmaceutical industry is a key industry in Germany: Many of its products stand at the beginning of value chains. Sales and innovations from Germany’s third largest industry contribute to prosperity in this country.

The wide range of products from the industry is in great demand everywhere – the German chemical-pharmaceutical industry is competitive internationally. It is no. 1 in Europe and no. 3 worldwide. The industry is highly globalized. Companies have been at home on the world market for a long time, with production sites in almost all regions and countries.

The industry is an important provider of impulses for the German economy. With its investments and application know-how, the industry constantly triggers further developments in industrial processing sectors. The chemical industry contributes every fifth patent of cross-sectoral significance.

The industry lives up to the guiding principle of sustainable development, i.e. equal standing is given to ecological, social and economic goals. Chemical-pharmaceutical companies invest in environmental protection, improve their own energy efficiency and provide products and processes that help reduce resource consumption. As a major industrial employer, the industry assumes social responsibility and also pays above-average salaries and wages.

Please note:

In the download section at the top of this page, you will find a comprehensive portrait of the German chemical-pharmaceutical industry as well as a PowerPoint file with charts illustrating the most important facts and figures around the industry sector.