Facts and Figures
The Cologne economic region is one of the leading locations of the chemical industry in Europe. About 230 chemical companies of all sizes and sectors with a total of around 65,000 employees have established themselves in this region.
The influence of the ChemCologne region (Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Cologne, Aachen, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Düsseldorf, Mittlerer Niederrhein, Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid) on the chemical industry is vast: nearly 27 billion Euro were generated within the Rhineland. This was approximately 57% of North Rhine-Westphalia's chemical turnover, which is equivalent to 20% of Germany's total chemical turnover. The high number of companies, ranging from highly specialized small and medium-sized enterprises to big concerns, takes advantage of the excellent location factors:
Central location:
The ChemCologne region is located in the economic core area of the European Union. Over 60 million people live within a radius of 250 km in the region's catchment area. In addition to the customers, a large number of processing companies of nearly all sectors are also to be found in the immediate vicinity, thus creating an important chemical's market in the Greater Cologne area. All large international trading centres for chemical products can be reached in a very short time.
Optimal transport connections:
The ChemCologne region lies at the junction of major international transport routes and is one of the leading logistic centers in Europe. Ten motorways, radiating in all directions, make fast transportation of goods easy. Using modern and multi-modal transshipment facilities for combined load traffic, chemical products can be transshipped onto rail transport; in particular, the Cologne Eifeltor freight center is the busiest freight center in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Due to its location on the Rhine river, the most important European waterway, there are excellent connections to the seaports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. In the ChemCologne region, the Rhine is equipped with a number of modern docks, including the facilities of the HGK AG in Cologne-Godorf and Cologne-Niehl, which are specially tailored to the needs of the chemicals industry with highly efficient oil and gas loading stations. Furthermore, Europe's largest inland port in Duisburg lies in the immediate vicinity.
Numerous special providers of chemicals logistics services have settled in the region and ensure smooth transportation of chemical products on a high quality and safety level. The ChemCologne region is home to two major air traffic hubs, the international airports of Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf. Cologne/ Bonn Airport is the second largest freight airport of the Federal Republic of Germany and the seventh largest of Europe.
Dense pipeline grid:
The ChemCologne region is tied into an international pipeline system and has a unique pipeline network crosslinking the individual sites. More than 50% of all products and raw materials in the region are transported in an environmentally friendly and economical way via the pipelines. Crude oil, for example, is transported from the seaports of Rotterdam and Wilhelmshaven to the local refineries. Further product lines provide the region with ethylene and industrial gases.
Short approval times:
When it comes to planning and implementation of investment projects, the companies in the ChemCologne region are cooperating with public authorities which have a positive attitude towards the chemical industry and actively support the development of the region as a chemical location. Approval procedures are dealt with quickly and correctly. As the approval and supervisory authority, the Cologne regional government is the main contact address, thus ensuring that the investor receives all required approvals "from one single source".
Highly qualified employees:
In the ChemCologne region, investors can draw on a large pool of very well-trained and highly motivated employees. In the chemical industry, vocational training and professional development are traditionally of high importance. The chemical companies offer over 50 different vocations. Modern and flexible wage agreements and innovative ways for providing personnel allow diverse opportunities to arrange personnel costs.
Cooperative universities:
Worldwide, the ChemCologne region is one of the areas with the highest density of universities and colleges, research facilities and progressive companies. All of them contribute decisively to making the results of basic research usable for industry and to strengthen the region's competitiveness. A dense network of founder and technology centres offers founders of new businesses attractive start-up conditions, medium-sized and large companies can develop additional innovation potential here.
High level of acceptance:
The chemical industry has a long tradition in the region. Numerous chemical companies already established themselves here at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the chemical industry secures over 300,000 jobs along the entire production and value-added chain in the region. The chemical industry therefore has a very high acceptance among the people living here. The region lives from and with the chemical industry.