Development of the Chemical Industry in Poland Against the Background of the European Union

The chemical industry is a broad sector that encompasses all the different types of industry that produce products that rely on the intensive use of chemicals. The aim of the paper was to analyze the development of the chemical industry in Poland against the background of the EU. The Polish chemical industry produces many products, which can be divided into different categories based on their application. The most important include organic and inorganic chemicals. Organic chemicals include carbon compounds such as ketones, alcohol, carboxylic acids, and cyclic compounds. They are used in the production of solvents, varnishes, paints, and adhesives, as well as in the production of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry and others. The Polish chemical industry employs over 300,000 people. The financial profit achieved by companies specializing in the production of chemicals and chemical products was PLN 9.99 billion in 2022, compared to PLN 8.16 billion in 2021. The financial profit for producers of plastic and rubber products was PLN 9.56 billion, compared to PLN 8.68 billion in 2021. These increases in profits were very noticeable for individual companies, where the scale of growth compared to the previous year was often impressive. The chemical industry is a key sector in the European Union, being the fourth largest industry in the EU. There are approximately 30,000 chemical companies in the EU, directly employing approximately 1.2 million people. Europe is the second largest producer of chemicals in the world, generating a high percentage of global sales.