Core Viewpoint - The European chemical industry is expected to see a decline in production by 2025, contrary to previous expectations of a 0.5% growth, with 2024 projected to grow by 2.4% [1] Industry Outlook - The recovery prospects for the industry remain unclear, and a weak global economic environment will limit demand growth [1] - European chemical companies face high risks due to trade disruptions, including U.S. tariffs [1] Production and Capacity Utilization - The chemical production capacity utilization rate is expected to decline further to 74.6% in Q3, down from 75.6% in Q2 [1] - The competitiveness of the European chemical industry remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels, particularly for basic chemicals and petrochemical products [1] Sales and Trade - In the first half of 2025, European chemical production is projected to decrease by 2.4% year-on-year, which is 10% lower than pre-pandemic levels [1] - Due to persistent weak demand and stable prices, sales revenue is expected to decline by 1.8% year-on-year [1] - The European chemical industry needs strong domestic demand for significant growth, but no positive shifts in domestic demand have been observed so far [1] - In the first half of 2025, chemical exports increased by 0.5% year-on-year, while imports rose by 5.4%, resulting in a trade surplus of €20.1 billion, down 17% year-on-year [1]