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Industry Data

An Impressive Creator of Wealth and Employment

The polyurethane industry is an impressive creator of wealth - in terms of jobs and revenues - by producing products and articles that people want and need. To assess accurately based on statistics just how beneficial the industry is, ISOPA commissioned, from independent specialists, a report on the whole industry chain in Europe.

The ‘Data on the European Polyurethanes Industry' spans the whole sector from raw material producers through to the thousands of companies that make end products. It shows how much wealth the sector creates for society and at what point. To our knowledge, this initiative is unique in the European chemical sector for detail and depth of information.
Summarising the key parameters for the industry value chain based on aromatic diisocyanates and associated polyols

 
•
•
• 		Involves more than 23,500 companies most of which are SMEs
Employs more than 817, 000 workers
Generates a market value of over €125 billion.

In addition, the associated but indirect activities involve more than 71,000 companies employing about 2,040,000 people.

It is important to note that the majority of companies in the polyurethane industry are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

   
Parameter
Chemical
Producers
Polyurethane
Converters
End-use
Producers
Indirect
Industry
Total
Industry
Number of
companies
390
1495
21,700
71,000
94,700
% which are
SMEs
<50
>50
>70
>90
>80
Total number
of workers
13,900
88,500
715,000
2,204,000
2,862,000
Average number
per company
36
60
33
33
30
Volume
(k tons)
3,350
-
-
-
-
Market value
(€ billion)
3.4
125
-
-
-
Export market value
(€ billion)
0.69
2.4
-
-
-