A most attractive industry for international investors 

The Spanish chemical sector is a strategic industry for the spanish economy and an important generator of wealth and employment. It comprises over 3,112 companies, with a turnover of €85.5 bn in 2024, and generates 816,200 quality jobs. 240,200 people are directly employed by the industry of whom. 46.8% are women.

With an accumulated 61% growth in revenue in the period between 2010 and 2024, this industry represents 11.6 % of Spain's Gross Industrial Product and 4.7% of Spanish GDP in 2024. 

It is also the second most important export category, with €59.2 bn exported to international markets in 2024. 69.2% of Spain's chemical production is exported.

Employment created by the chemical industry is stable – 94% of contracts are permanent – and it is one of the industries with the highest level of productivity per employee.

Spain’s Chemical Sector is one of the largest investors in R&D&I of the manufacturing industry, with more than €2 billion investment/year that accounts for 24% of total industrial investment in R&D&I. Chemical sectors account for 20% of total research staff employed by the Spanish industry in 2024.

The chemical industry supplies products that are used in 98% of the productive processes in the economy.

This is one of the industrial sectors predicted to experience the fastest growth worldwide. The increase in production that will be needed to satisfy new international demand is estimated at 4.5% year-on-year until 2030.

Spain is the third preferred destination in the EU, for new chemical manufacturing projects and RDI projects (2003-2024, FDI markets data)

^{Source: Feique / FDI Markets.}