The “Verband der Chemischen Industrie”, representing the business interests of 1,650 German chemical companies, has published a study on development pathways for the German Chemistry by 2030. This prediction relates not only to Germany, but also to all other European countries.
The chemical companies are increasingly exposed to global competition and there is a growing need to react on this. In the presented study, four strategies are highlighted, of how the companies can meet the challenge.
Response to intense global competition:
1. Increase innovation efforts:
By 2030, the industry will increase its annual research budget of more then 9 billion to nearly 18 billion euros. This represents an increase of four percent per year. "The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is already one of the most innovative sectors of the German economy. But global competition for new products requires an even higher rate of innovation," said President of VCI.
2. Focus on specialty chemicals:
Research-intensive and higher-value specialty chemicals for paints, pesticides, plastics and consumer products will gain further production volumes. Even today, this segment takes 43 percent for the largest share in the various segments of the German chemical industry. Their specific advantage in knowledge is, what will make the difference in the future competition against other nations chemical industry.
3. Produce even more efficient:
Since 1990, the energy consumption in the German chemical industry has decreased by a fifth, although production has increased by nearly 60 percent. According to the calculations of forecasters, global competition and increasing energy- and raw material costs, will raise the bar of the companies resource efficiency significantly. Although the production volumes by the year 2030 will be 40 percent higher, the total raw material consumption will increase by only 15 percent, the energy consumption even by only eight percent. A complete decoupling of growth and primary energy use is not feasible clarified Engel: "The EU objective of limiting the abolute energy consumption is is not compatible with future growth in the chemical industry"
4. Optimize resource base:
By 2030, the chemical companies in Germany will use 50 percent more renewable resources for their procedures than today. The qualitative changes in the resource basis will continue and will reduce the dependence of the sector on finite fossil fuels. Already vegetable raw materials, amounting around 2.7 million tons are used by the chemical industry per year, predominantly for the manufacture of specialty chemicals derived products.
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