EU chemical production: -15% over 10 years
In 2024, the EU produced a total of 224 million tonnes of chemicals (hazardous and non-hazardous) and consumed 232 million tonnes, indicating a 15% decrease in production and 18% decline in consumption compared with 2014. However, compared with 2023, there was a small increase for both production and consumption of 6% and 5%, respectively.
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 2024, the production of chemicals hazardous to health was 172 million tonnes in the EU, down 33 million tonnes since 2014 (-16%). Production of chemicals hazardous to the environment meanwhile reached 66 million tonnes, 7.9 million tonnes less compared with 2014 (-11%). These 2 sub-categories of hazardous chemicals overlap.
Source dataset: env_chmhaz
The usage of chemicals hazardous to health was 170 million tonnes in 2024, -22% compared with a decade ago. The consumption of chemicals hazardous to the environment likewise went down (-32%) and totalled 53 million tonnes in 2024.
Source dataset: env_chmhaz
Overall, the EU consumption of hazardous chemicals has fallen substantially, decreasing by 47 million tonnes since 2014. This decline includes an 18 million tonnes reduction in the consumption of the most harmful substances (dropping from 48 million to 30 million tonnes) over the same period, reflecting efforts to reduce the most damaging chemicals.
For more information
- Statistics Explained article on chemicals production and consumption statistics
- Thematic section on environment
- Database on environment
Methodological notes
- Consumption volumes result by adding the net import to the production volumes of the chemicals.
- ‘Hazardous substances for human health’ include chemicals that pose acute risks via skin, inhalation, or dermal exposure, can cause skin and eye irritation/corrosion, or present aspiration hazards. ‘Most harmful substances for human health’ are those that can cause cancer, genetic mutations, reproductive harm, disrupt endocrine functions, and lead to severe organ toxicity or respiratory issues with repeated exposure at low levels of respiratory sensitisation.
- ‘Hazardous substances for the environment’ are chemical substances that cause acute harm to aquatic organisms.
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