Overview of the Chemicals Industry in the United Kingdom & How to Buy Chemicals

The UK is located in Europe
It has a population of 66.65 million
Capital: London
Official Language: English
Total Area: 242,495 km2
Currency: Pound Sterling

Economy of the UK

The United Kingdom is the 5th largest national economy with a GDP of 3.78 trillion US $.
The UK ranks 22nd when it comes to GDP per capita.
The largest industries in the UK are banking and finance, steel, transport equipment, oil and gas, and tourism.
Economy break down: manufacturing 17.41 %, 71.26 % from the service sector and agriculture 0.61%.

Main Importers of the UK:

German 13%
US 9.9%
China 9.7%
Netherlands 7.0%
France 5.7%
Belgium 4.7%

Main Exports of the UK:

US 16%
Germany 10%
France 6.9%
Netherlands 6.7%
China 6.6%
Ireland 6.1%

Chemical Use in the UK:

Given the economic growth of the UK, it is an attractive country for chemicals trade. The UK’s chemical industry is diverse and includes chemicals for petrochemicals, inorganics, polymers, agrochemicals, lubricants, fuel additives, construction chemicals and catalysts.

The chemical sector contributes £19.2 billion to the economy and about 6% GDP and about 11% of manufacturing GDP in the UK.

The Steel Industry:

The steel industry makes up a significant part of the UK, a number of chemicals are used in the finishing stage, these are Hydrochloric acid and Sulfuric acid. This process is called pickling.

Transport Equipment:

Transport equipment manufacturing includes railroad equipment, aircraft and aerospace equipment and motor vehicle equipment. The chemicals used in the manufacturing process of steel and metal (commonly used in the manufacturing of transport equipment) are Calcium chloride, Cobalt acetate, Iron and Nickle.

The Oil and Gas Industry:

The oil and gas industry makes up a significant part of the UK economy, BP is a UK company and ranks 4th in the worlds leading oil and gas companies. During the exploration and production process of oil and gas, many chemicals are used, these are Acetic acid, Boric acid, Calcium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Ethylene Glycol, Formic acid, Hydrochloric acid, Phosphoric acid, Potassium hydroxide, Sodium carbonate and Sodium hydroxide.

A wide range of chemicals are used extensively in the UK’s industries. Felixstowe Port is the largest port in the United Kingdom. It is located in Suffolk and deals with 48% of the UK’s containerised trade, many of which is chemicals and manufacturing materials from around the world.

A wide range of chemicals are used extensively in the UK’s oil and gas industry. Chemicals are used in every aspect of the production, manufacturing, extracting and fracking processes.

The UK is accessible by both land and sea. For international trading the main seaports are:

Port of Felixstowe
Port of Southampton
Port of London
Port of Immingham
Port of Liverpool

For importing the good, Camachem uses the United Kingdom’s largest port of Felixstowe.

Felixstowe Port is the largest port in the United Kingdom. It is located in Suffolk and deals with 48% of the UK’s containerised trade, many of the containers contain chemicals and manufacturing materials from around the world.

What chemicals does the UK Import?

According to the latest trade data, the UK imports US$10.13 billion in organic chemicals. They include chemicals such as:

What are the Regulations on Importing Chemicals to the UK?

Due to the UK’s exit of the European Union, there have been changes in the chemical importing process.
The new process is the importer must classify, label and package the chemical substance and mixtures and ensure this is in line with the CLP regulations. The importer must notify the CLP classifications regarding the substances to the Classification and Labelling Inventory established at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

The British Exit of the European Union (BREXIT) has caused a lot of uncertainty when it comes to importing chemicals into the United Kingdom. Be sure to read the guidelines on the HSE website.

Why should The United Kingdom import chemicals?

Availability - The local industry has limited capacity and some clients require chemicals in a timely manner.
High Chemical Cost - Given domestic competition and high production costs, chemicals are more expensive to buy domestically than they are on the world market.
Chemical Quality - While most international chemical suppliers have good brand reputation and quality, some smaller domestic manufacturers can have variant chemical quality.

Where Can I Buy Chemicals for the United Kingdom?

Camachem has been exporting chemicals to clients in the United Kingdom. Feel free to contact us at [email protected].
We also ship worldwide; for other countries, check out our experience here.

Are you interested in this chemical?

Email us with any questions or inquiries