Netherlands
Chemical Region
Netherlands
The chemical industry in Netherlands
The Dutch Chemical Industry turnover in 2019 was a respectable € 52 billion. With this, the Netherlands is the fourth largest chemical producer in Europe and tenth worldwide. It provides work for 45,000 people, distributed among more than 390 companies. With the exception of the food, beverages and tobacco industry, the chemical industry is the largest business sector in the Netherlands. For several decades now, the chemical industry and the Netherlands have been a profitable combination. Due in part to the Rotterdam harbour, the infrastructure, top universities and the availability of qualified personnel, the chemical industry has found a good home base in the Netherlands. Furthermore the sector has created an attractive ecosystem of suppliers and clients, creating an integrated supply chain, with significant multiplier effects throughout the Dutch and European economy.
The Dutch industry is a truly global player in the production of bulk chemicals and has a large share (17%) in total Dutch exports. As a result the industry is a main contributor to Dutch industrial GHG emissions. The sector has published a Roadmap 2050, which demonstrates how it can reach carbon neutral production by 2050, whilst contributing sustainable solutions to an economy in transition. Since 1990, the sector has been able to reduce it’s CO2 emissions by over 25% and it’s N2O emissions by 81% - all while doubling its production output.
