Britain’s £50 billion chemical and pharmaceutical industry
continues to show solid growth in 2015. In the latest survey of its members by
the Chemical Industries Association most companies predict they will increase
sales in the next 12 months. Added to this almost 40% of businesses will increase capital expenditure. Survey results also indicate healthy growth
in exports, employee numbers and spending on Research and Development over the
next twelve months. In a look at productivity, official data shows chemical manufacturers achieved a 10%
increase in productivity between 2008 and 2014. This has continued into 2015
with 60% of companies responding to the survey reporting increased
productivity over the last twelve months.
Official numbers reflected the business leaders confidence
and the sectors position as our number one manufacturing exporter with chemical
industry exports to the USA increasing by 65% in the five months to May compared with the same period in 2015, 19%
of all UK chemical exports. Pharmaceuticals
exports to the USA increased by a massive 124% to now be 33% of all chemical exports. The weak euro affected exports to the rest of
the EU and chemical exports to the European Union fell by 8.6% but were
still 55% of all chemical exports.
Pharmaceuticals exports to Europe fell by 9% but are still 42% of all of our pharmaceutical exports.
Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries
Association, said “these latest results show how chemical and pharmaceutical
businesses are grasping opportunities to compete on the world stage. What we
need for the future is Government action on energy policy and especially shale
gas, plus a continued framework for innovation
to drive productivity and growth. I am confident this will convince
global companies to continue to invest in the UK and ensure we continue to
deliver a positive environmental, social and economic performance across the
UK”.
Ends
For further comment please call Simon Marsh on 07951 389197
or email marshs@cia.org.uk
www.cia.org.uk
Some chemical industry facts:
- 2014 chemical industry growth was 3.7%
- We contribute £60m of Added Value every single
working day (over £15bn a year) to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product
- Our exports are nearly £50bn each year – we are
the UK’s number one manufacturing exporter
- The growth in jobs has been an astonishing - 11%
in the chemicals sector and 10% in the pharmaceutical industry
- We have a total of 30,000 full-time equivalent
roles in research and development showing the strength of the UK’s expanding
science base
- The £4bn we spend on capital expenditure
represents a 7% real terms annual increase