Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia Facts. Figures.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia
Facts. Figures.
www.nrwinvest.com

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 2
Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia
Facts & figures
Number of Companies*
NRW‘s share of German companies
Employees*
NRW‘s share of German employees
Sales*
thereof foreign sales
NRW‘s share of German sales
Average monthly earnings
Exports**
NRW‘s share of German exports
Imports**
NRW‘s share of German imports
404
25.8 %
89,530
27.7 %
49.2 EUR bn
54.8 %
34.1 %
4,811 EUR
29.3 EUR bn
29.0 %
17.2 EUR bn
24.0 %
Source: IT.NRW; position as at 2011
* the figures refer to the manufacture of chemical products (NACE Code 20; not including pharma) by companies with 20
and more employees; they are based on the new "Classification of Economic Activities (WZ 2008)"
** the figures refer to foreign trade statistics for North Rhine-Westphalia
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the most important German chemical region,
the chemical industry is one of the state's biggest employers. More than 400
chemical companies employ nearly 90,000 staff – approx. 30 percent of all employees
in this industry in Germany. Of the 20 top-selling German chemical companies,
six of them have their headquarters in NRW. At 144.4 billion euros, the
North Rhine-Westphalian chemical industry alone contributes as much to total
German sales as the three federal states Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg
combined.
With sales of 49.2 billion euros the industry ranks first in NRW, closely followed
by mechanical engineering with 48 billion euros. The attractive location in the
middle of Europe and the dense road, rail and waterway transport network also
make NRW an important chemical location internationally – in terms of sales it
occupies 5 th place in the EU and 13 th worldwide.
As a cross-sectional industry, about 1,000 chemical companies in NRW – of
which 400 have 20 or more employees – are of considerable importance for
many industrial added value chains. The chemical industry is closely linked to
other industrial sectors. Around 70 percent of all materials manufactured in the
chemical industry go into industrial further processing. As a central materials
supplier, the chemical industry triggers a large proportion of innovations in these
value added chains. For this reason the chemical industry is also described as an
innovation engine for industry as a whole.
With twelve chemical parks, NRW ranks No. 1 in Germany. Approx. 50 percent
of all employees in the chemical industry in NRW work in chemical parks. The
chemical locations in the state boast an established infrastructure and sophisticated
logistics. The operating companies provide comprehensive services for the

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 3
firms based at the location – needs-based and efficiently. They take care of pollution
control, fire prevention and plant security, as well as plant and process safety.
They supply the firms with electricity and water, as well as operating the waste
management facilities. This complete infrastructure combined with an intensive
network for raw materials and energy plays a key role in determining the productivity
of a chemical company. The all-round service provided by the chemical
parks thus helps the established firms to produce competitively and to concentrate
on their core business. Chemical parks are also predestined partners for
companies in Germany and abroad that want to resettle. The location operators
have well-established contacts to the authorities, thereby facilitating short approval
procedures in the planning and construction of plants.
Foreign trade
In 2011, the chemical companies in NRW generated sales of more than 49 billion
euros. International trade plays a crucial role, with export business accounting for
more than half of sales. The most important customer and supplier countries
include the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Italy, as well as the USA. China
has moved into the top ten for the first time.
Customers (in %)
France 11.6 Belgium 9.9
Netherlands
11.7
Italy 8.0
USA 4.9
UK 4.8
Poland 4.1
other countries
34.3
Spain 3.7
China 3.7
Austria 3.3
Suppliers (in %)
Belgium 18.2
France 10.6
Netherlands
22.1
USA 6.7
UK 5.7
Japan 4.6
other countries
19.9
Italy 4.1
China 3.3
Spain 2.5
Switzerland 2.3
Source: IT.NRW, Foreign trade statistics for North Rhine-Westphalia; data: as of 2011

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 4
Regional concentration
The regions with a particularly high proportion of employees subject to social
security contributions in the chemical industry include the district-free cities of
Krefeld and Leverkusen. Regions with a particularly high proportion of companies
in the chemical industry are the Ennepe-Ruhr district and the district-free
city of Leverkusen.
Employment concentration
Company concentration
Low
NRW
average
High
Source: IT.NRW; the figures refer to NACE Code Rev. 2: 20 (manufacture of chemical products);
data: as of 2009

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 5
Companies
The chemical industry in NRW is characterized strongly by small and mediumsized
enterprises (SMEs). According to the VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie
= German Chemical Industry Association) the proportion of SMEs with fewer
than 500 employees is more than 90 percent. Like the large industrial concerns,
SMEs are also active on the world's markets. A special feature is that while SMEs
in many other industries mainly perform supplier functions, in the chemical industry
most of them manufacture end products. Exports account for nearly 90 percent
of their sales.
The manufacture of primary products is, however, a domain of the large corporations.
Those headquartered in NRW include such internationally renowned companies
as Bayer, Evonik Industries, Henkel and LANXESS, as well as companies
which are represented in NRW with research and production facilities such as
BASF and 3M.
• ALTANA AG, Wesel: The company develops, produces and sells highquality,
innovative products in the specialty chemicals business with 5,300
employees. The product range includes additives, special coatings and adhesives,
effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins &
varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. The group of companies
with global operations has its headquarters in Wesel on the Lower Rhine.
Foreign business accounts for 85 percent of its total turnover. In the 2011 fiscal
year, ALTANA increased annual sales to around 1.6 billion euros.
• BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH (formerly Cognis GmbH),
Düsseldorf: Since the end of 2010, Monheim-based Cognis GmbH has
been part of the BASF Group. Structural integration will be completed by the
end of 2012. Key business areas of Cognis GmbH are now to be found in
the BASF segment "Performance Products", which contributes nearly 16 billion
euros to the total Group sales of 73.5 billion euros (2011). BASF is the
world's leading chemical company. With 111,500 employees, six Verbund
sites and close to 370 production sites worldwide serving customers and
partners in almost all countries across the globe. The product portfolio
ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural
products and fine chemicals, as well as oil and gas.
• Bayer AG, Leverkusen: Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies
in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer AG defines
common values, goals and strategies for the entire Group. Three subgroups
operate independently, led by the management holding company: In
addition to the pharmaceutical subgroup Bayer HealthCare, Bayer Crop-
Science is one of the world's leading companies in crop protection, pest control,
seeds and plant biotechnology. Bayer MaterialScience is one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of polymers and high-quality plastics. Apart
from its polycarbonates and polyurethanes, this company’s offering also includes
innovative developments in the fields of coatings, adhesives, insulating
materials and sealants. In addition, there are three service companies
with central service functions, including Bayer Technology Services, a capa-

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 6
ble supplier of technology solutions for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries
with close ties to operators. A first-class network of experts draws on
the decades-long experience of a global corporation to develop, implement
and optimize plants and processes. In 2011, the Bayer Group employed
112,000 people worldwide with sales of 36.5 billion euros; not counting the
HealthCare-Pharmaceuticals subgroup, its sales totaled 19.3 billion euros.
• DuPont, branches in Hamm-Uentrop, Cologne, Wuppertal: DuPont is a
scientifically oriented company which provides both products and services.
The company is active in more than 90 countries and offers a wide range of
innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition,
construction, communications, and transportation. Hamm-Uentrop site (400
employees): manufacture of technical plastics, primary plastic products and
foils for laminated safety glass. Cologne site (280 employees): sale of automotive
refinishing coatings. Wuppertal site (2,000 employees): manufacture
and sale of coatings for industrial applications, in particular automotive series
and refinishing coatings, electrocoatings, wire enamels and impregnating
varnishes. The company is headquartered in Wilmington in Delaware,
USA. DuPont employs 60,000 people worldwide and generated sales of 38
billion US dollars in 2011.
• Evonik Industries AG, Essen: The company is active in more than 100
countries throughout the world in the fields chemicals, energy and real estate.
In 2011, some 33,600 employees at the company's production sites in
26 countries generated sales of 14.5 billion euros, with foreign sales accounting
for more than 70 percent of the total. Evonik is one of the world's leading
companies in specialty chemicals. The company is the market leader in more
than 80 percent of chemical business. The specialty chemical products are
used in a wide range of industrial sectors – from automotive to pharmaceuticals.
• Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf: The company was founded in Aachen in 1876.
Today it is represented in 125 countries. Henkel produces laundry and home
care products, cosmetics and toiletries, adhesives, sealants, and surface
treatments. In the field of adhesives Henkel is the world market leader. The
company employs over 47,000 people (approx. 80 percent of those abroad)
and generated sales of 15.6 billion euros in 2011.
• LANXESS AG, Leverkusen: LANXESS is as leading specialty chemical
company which generated sales of 8.8 billion euros in 2011 and currently
employs around 17,000 people in 31 countries. The company is represented
at 46 production locations worldwide. The core business of LANXESS comprises
the development, manufacture and sale of plastics, rubber, intermediates,
and specialty chemicals.
• Westfalen AG, Münster: Established in Münster in 1923, the company operates
traditionally in the business areas Technical Gases, Westfalengas and
Gas Stations, and it has six foreign subsidiaries. In 2011, sales totaled 1.7
billion euros, generated by approx. 1,250 employees.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 7
University & research landscape
Universities
A strong economic sector needs a good substructure in order to consolidate and
improve its position in the world market. NRW provides an outstanding scientific
infrastructure for this purpose. The state's universities and universities of applied
sciences offer more than 100 courses in chemistry or related subjects.
The list alone of university institutes and research facilities which are concerned
with the subject of chemistry in NRW already indicates the huge importance
attached to technology leadership in this field. The following selection of universities
and institutes outlines some examples:
• RWTH Aachen University (37,900 students)
Faculty of Chemistry with Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical
Chemistry, Technical Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Fuel
Chemistry. As part of the federal and state excellence initiative, the future
concept "RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges" of the university has
been included in the promotion of excellence.
• Aachen University of Applied Sciences (11,300 students)
Faculty of Chemistry and Biotechnology; Applied Chemistry; research focusing
on the fields polymer chemistry, nanotechnology and biotechnology,
polymer materials and bioengineering.
• Bielefeld University (19,600 students)
According to the 2012/2013 university rankings of the Center for Higher
Education Development, the Bielefeld Chemistry Department is among
Germany's top five. It offers bachelor's/master's degree courses in Biochemistry
and Chemistry, a Master of Education for high schools, etc. and doctoral
studies at the International Graduate School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
• Ruhr University Bochum (38,400 students)
Departments of Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry,
Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Technical Chemistry, Theoretical
Chemistry. Specializations in Molecular Biochemistry and Interfacial Systems
Chemistry.
• University of Cologne (49,200 students)
Faculties of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry,
Biochemistry and Theoretical Chemistry.
• Technical University Dortmund (29,500 students)
Faculty of Chemistry, focus: Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Organic
Chemistry, Physical Chemistry.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 8
• Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (23,200 students)
Faculties of Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioorganic Chemistry, Organic
Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Theoretical Chemistry.
• University of Duisburg-Essen (38,700 students)
Faculties of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry,
Physical Chemistry and Theoretical Chemistry.
• University of Münster (39,900 students)
Departments of Inorganic & Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical
Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical & Medical Chemistry, Food
Chemistry.
• University of Paderborn (18,300 students)
In addition to the established subjects, the university's Department of Chemistry
offers courses that include Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,
as well as Didactics of Chemistry, all with the standard degrees.
• Bonn-Rhine-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Sankt Augustin
(6,600 students)
Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, Chemistry and Material Sciences,
graduation as Bachelor of Science (BSc).
• University of Wuppertal (17,300 students)
Research focal points environmental chemistry, natural products and material
sciences.
Research
• Forschungszentrum Jülich; www.fz-juelich.de
With its approx. 1,755 scientists and an annual budget of over 484 million
euros, FZ Jülich research center is one of the largest research facilities in
Europe and the flagship institution for joint ventures with industry and universities.
It is home to the Institute of Energy and Climate Research which
specializes in atmospheric research.
• INVITE GmbH, Chempark Leverkusen; www.invite-research.com
INVITE is a non-university research facility for applied sciences in the field of
new production technologies. It develops process innovations and technology
solutions for corporations and companies in the chemical, pharmaceutical
and biotechnology industries. The shareholders are Bayer Technology Services
GmbH and the Technical University Dortmund. The company has its
headquarters at the Chempark in Leverkusen.
• Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Chemical Energy Conversion,
Mülheim/Ruhr; www.mpi-muelheim.mpg.de
The activities of the former MPI for Bioinorganic Chemistry, namely research
into the chemical processes of photosynthesis in green plants, are
being considerably extended by the Max Planck Society. In the future, the
institute will concern itself increasingly with questions of the chemical con-

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 9
version and storage of energy, in particular with catalysts which are capable
of producing solar energy carriers from hydrogen. This extension means
that the institute will grow substantially in both size and importance.
• Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund;
www.mpi-dortmund.mpg.de
With an international team of molecular and cell biologists, biochemists and
chemists, the MPI employs state-of-the-art technology to explore molecular
biology and organic chemistry and to elucidate the complex ways in which
the building blocks of life interact – the genes as carriers of genetic information
and the proteins as catalysts and structural materials of the cells. The
institute works very closely with the Technical University Dortmund and the
Ruhr University Bochum.
Naturally, the globally recognized dual vocational education system in Germany
also ensures well-founded and qualified training for chemistry on a commercial
and business/technical level. The numerous on-the-job training enterprises in
NRW thus supply a considerable pool of employees from which investors can
also profit. In addition, the chemistry initiatives ChemCologne and ChemSite offer
support in the selection process.
The RHEIN-ERFT AKADEMIE is an outstanding example of enterprise-driven
training and further training projects based at Chemical Park Knapsack. The
academy is one of the most important institutions for vocational education in Germany.
The company was established in 2003 as a subsidiary of Infraserv GmbH
& Co. Knapsack KG. Training, further training and study are the core fields of
activity, each with a strong focus on the chemical industry. Since the 2011/2012
winter semester the on-the-job study course "Bachelor of Process Engineering"
has been also offered in addition to the existing extra-occupational course in
cooperation with the Aachen University of Applied Sciences.
Cluster & lead market
The state government of North Rhine-Westphalia has resolved to develop 16
clusters in industries and technologies with high growth and innovation potential.
The aim of North Rhine-Westphalia's cluster policy is to create a favorable environment
for innovation, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of the economy,
in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and improving
conditions for growth and employment. The 16 fields of industry and technology
showing great potential for growth are: automotive, chemicals, energy, food,
healthcare, information and communications technologies, plastics, logistics,
mechanical and plant engineering, media and culture, nano-, micro-, biotechnologies,
new materials and environmental technologies.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 10
The chief objective of the Chemistry Cluster is to strengthen the innovative ability
of the chemical companies in NRW by means of value added chain-related networking
with client and buyer industries, while at the same time involving universities
and scientific institutes. The chemical industry is characterized by numerous
product segments which are integral parts of many value added chains in the
client industries. For this reason the Chemistry Cluster focuses its work on key
industry areas in order to identify important future fields in NRW, to create networks
within the business community and with the scientific community, and to
initiate independent thematic clusters in fields where a critical mass of protagonists
exists. As small and medium-sized enterprises account for more than 90
percent of the industry, the promotion of the innovative ability of such companies
in NRW has top priority. Further information at: www.nrwchemie.de
Regional clusters & networks
NRW has two equally important locations for the chemical industry which also
enjoy international standing: the Cologne and the Ruhr Metropolis regions. Here,
chemistry receives strong support from politics, from associations and not least
from the public. An indication of this broad consensus is given by the two initiatives
ChemCologne in Cologne and ChemSite in Marl, which both use similar
means to pursue the same goal: to strengthen the chemical industry in the two
regions and to realize investments quickly and cost-effectively.
• ChemCologne, Cologne, www.chemcologne.de
ChemCologne was launched in 1999; its members include the state of North
Rhine-Westphalia, economic development agencies from the region, companies
and associations. ChemCologne represents nine large locations:
Chemical Park Hürth-Knapsack (chlorine chemistry, plastics, plant protection,
specialty chemicals), CHEMPARK of CURRENTA GmbH & Co. OHG
at the three sites Leverkusen, Dormagen and Uerdingen (broad spectrum),
Evonik Degussa Niederkassel-Lülsdorf (secondary electrolysis products, organic
intermediate products), Evonik Degussa Wesseling (silica-related
products, organic intermediate products), Industrial Park Köln-Nord (polymers,
organic intermediate products), Industrial Park Oberbruch (carbon fiber,
polyester, rayon production) and Industrial Park Troisdorf (plastics
products). In addition, the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Park Wuppertal
(active pharmaceutical ingredients) is also part of ChemCologne. The objective
of ChemCologne is to demonstrate the outstanding location advantages
of the chemical region and to sharpen its profile as an attractive chemical location
even more among both domestic and foreign investors. The approx.
230 chemical companies with a total of 65,000 employees, including numerous
foreign companies, e.g. from the USA and Japan, generated sales of
around 27 billion euros in 2011.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 11
• ChemSite, Marl, www.chemsite.de
ChemSite was established in 1997 by chemical companies, the state of
North Rhine-Westphalia, municipalities, associations, and trade unions. The
initiative currently offers investors around 175 hectare of fully developed industrial
space at the following seven locations, each with a different focus:
Marl Chemical Park (specialty and basic chemicals), Gelsenkirchen-Scholven
and Gelsenkirchen-Horst (oil and petrochemicals), Castrop-Rauxel (aromatic
basic chemistry, reprocessing), Dortmund (Deutsche Gasrußwerke,
pigment and carbon black), Industrial Park Dorsten/Marl (reprocessing) and
Marl Technology and Chemistry Center (start-up center, labs, technical
schools, offices). The vision shared by the ChemSite partners is the further
growth of chemical manufacturing in the Ruhr Metropolis economic region
as a leading industry in NRW. The ChemSite office is a central point of contact
for investors. Companies receive individual information, support and advice
free of charge from the first contact to the start of production and
beyond. This guarantees the companies the best possible, quick start. The
great commitment of all the partners and their efficient collaboration has
created a highly favorable environment for investments. Numerous international
companies already produce at the ChemSite locations.
• German Chemical Industry Association (Verband der Chemischen Industrie
e.V. / VCI), NRW Regional Association, www.nrwchemie.de
The NRW Regional Association has over 465 member companies with
about 110,000 employees. Its goals and tasks include looking after and
promoting the economic and environmental interests of the members,
representing the concerns of the chemical industry in NRW to the state's
public authorities, organizations and institutions, and presenting the environmental
and economic positions of the chemical industry to the public and
the media.

Chemical industry in North Rhine-Westphalia data: as of March 2013 12
Imprint
NRW.INVEST GmbH
Economic Development Agency
of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
Völklinger Straße 4
40219 Düsseldorf, Germany
Phone: +49 211 13000-0
Fax: +49 211 13000-154
E-Mail: nrw@nrwinvest.com
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