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DE WZ C20.59DE | Industry Report

Chemical Product Manufacturing in Germany Industry Data and Analysis

MW
Maximilian Weikert
Analyst Frankfurt, Germany January 2026

In the past five years, the speciality chemicals industry in Germany has recorded a significant decline in turnover. Since 2021, turnover in the sector has fallen by an average of 12.4% per year. This negative development is primarily due to an extraordinary special effect in 2021. In this year, there was a significant increase in turnover of over 40%, which was primarily due to a sharp rise in raw material and energy prices, catch-up effects following the coronavirus pandemic as well as ongoing supply bottlenecks and problems in international supply chains. The industry environment already deteriorated significantly in 2023, as demand slowed, industrial customers reduced their inventories and key end markets such as the automotive and chemical industries were characterised by a reluctance to invest. This was compounded by persistently high energy prices, new regulatory requirements and increased competitive pressure from Asia, which put additional pressure on the competitiveness of German companies.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany operates under the WZ industry code C20.59DE. 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. Related terms covered in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany include charge process, additive, speciality chemistry, basic chemistry and synthesis.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany include Compound diagnostic and laboratory reagents, Catalysts and Lubricants, oil additives, brake fluids, antifreeze.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany include BASF SE, Lanxess AG and Evonik Industries AG.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2026?

The market size of the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany is €25.6bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany in 2026?

There are 691 businesses in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany 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 Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany?

The Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

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 declining at a CAGR of 12.5 % between 2021 and 2026.

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 decline.

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

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

What does the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry in Germany include?

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

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

The company holding the most market share in the Chemical Product Manufacturing industry 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.

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