Chemistry in NRW – Facts and Figures
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the most important chemical region in Germany. More than 400 enterprises and in excess of 88,000 employees (more than 28% of all employees in the German chemical industry) make the chemical industry one of NRW's key industries. In addition more than one third of the total turnover of Germany's chemical industry is generated here. The chemical industry in NRW is characterized by a unique mix of many medium-sized businesses and a considerable number of global players. Approximately 80% of the products produced by the chemical industry are supplied to downstream industrial processors; the remaining 20% directly go to the consumer. Through its position as the major supplier of materials to industry in NRW, the chemical industry promotes innovation across virtually all manufacturing processes in the region. This role helps to initiate and sustain technological progress for industry throughout NRW.
Facts and Figures
Number of Companies* | 406 |
NRW's share of German companies | 26.3% |
Employees* | 88,508 |
NRW's share of German employees | 28.4% |
Sales* | 46.7 EUR bn |
thereof foreign sales | 53.6% |
NRW's share of German sales | 35.1% |
Source: IT.NRW; position as at 2010 |
|
* the figures refer to NACE Code 20 (manufacture of chemical products; not including pharma) by companies with 20 and more employees; they are based on the mew "Classification of Economic Activities (WZ 2008)" | |