Barrels of chemicals in a warehouse.

In 2023, the EU produced a total of 218 million tonnes of industrial chemicals (hazardous and non-hazardous) and consumed 227 million tonnes, indicating a 13% decrease in production and 14% decrease in consumption compared with 2022.

This information comes from data released by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on chemicals production and consumption. 

In 2023, 167 million tonnes of chemicals hazardous to health were produced in the EU, a drop of 11% compared with 2022. Production of chemicals hazardous to the environment declined by 4%, reaching 68 million tonnes. These 2 sub-categories of hazardous chemicals overlap.

Production of chemicals in the EU, 2004-2023, 2004=100. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: env_chmhaz

The consumption of hazardous chemicals also decreased in 2023. A total of 167 million tonnes of chemicals hazardous to health were used, a 14% decrease compared with 2022. The consumption of chemicals hazardous to the environment went down by 12% and totalled 57 million tonnes. 

Consumption of chemicals in the EU, 2004-2023, 2004=100. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: env_chmhaz

Looking back, both production and consumption of hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals increased between 2004 and 2007, before a drop during the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. After a rebound in 2010, chemicals production and consumption remained stable until 2020, and declined during the last 3 years.