Basic chemicals

Mainly produced from North sea oil and gas resources, basic chemicals are the primary ‘building blocks’ supplied to other chemicals industries and, as such, are supplied in large volumes.

What are basic chemicals?

Basic chemicals include the production and supply of:

• Basic organics and inorganics 
• Fertilisers and nitrogen compounds 
• Industrial gases 
• Dyes and pigments 
• Primary forms of plastic and synthetic rubber

Basic chemicals come under the official UK standard industry classification (SIC) term, SIC 24.1, and are the direct product of energy exploration, extraction and refining processes (SIC 23). 

The other chemical sectors operating in Scotland, classified under the SIC 24 umbrella are pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals.