Chemicals industry in Scotland
Scotland’s long-established chemicals industry plays a major role in the European Union (EU) and world chemicals markets.
Incorporating basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals, the industry as a whole is Scotland’s second top exporter, winning overseas exports valued at £3.7 billion a year, and is vital to the wider Scottish economy, underpinning a range of other sectors.
(Source: Global Connections Survey 2011)
Nearly 70 percent of chemicals are essential ‘ingredients’ for products and services of other industries, particularly in energy, life sciences, electronics and technology.
The world's leading chemical companies, including INEOS, FujiFilm, DSM, Ciba, GlaxoSmithKline, Dupont, Organon, DOW and Syngenta all have Scottish operations making raw materials-based products derived from North Sea oil and gas, which are then exported worldwide.
Many of these companies also have fine chemicals, speciality and pharmaceutical operations based here.
Our global partners based in Scotland benefit not only from our talented workforce and excellent transport infrastructure, but also from our world-class research and development (R&D) capabilities.
Read about Scotland's strengths in the chemicals industry