Since chemical industry is based on science and technology, its development is more important in developed countries. But now, so many developing countries are also important producers of several chemicals.  The global chemical industry is mostly controlled by few multinational companies as they have the patent right of the products. The major chemical-producing countries are USA, Germany, China, Russia, Japan, France, India, Brazil, Italy, Poland, Belgium, UK, etc.

1. USA:

The United States of America is the world’s leading country in the production of chemical products. It produces nearly 30 to 35 per cent nitric acid, soda ash and caustic soda of the world and also ranks second in the production of sulphuric acid.

The factors responsible for the development of chemical industry in USA are:

(i)                The development of science and technology.

(ii)              High degree of industrial development.

(iii)            Availability of raw material.

(iv)            Large and expanding market.

(v)              Capital through multinational companies.

The centres of chemical industry in USA are widely distributed. The largest concentration of chemical industry is in the northern states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, etc. Some industries often require products of other chemical industries. This interdependence or symbiotic relationship between the chemical plants forced most of the industrial establishments to settle within the same region. The other reasons responsible for this higher concentration in those states are the presence of nearby market, excellent transport facilities and availability of all kinds of raw materials within their periphery. Apart from these states, almost all other states have at least a few chemi­cal-producing units. The Atlantic coastal tracts ranging from New York, New Jersey, Maryland to the south-eastern state of Florida contribute more than 70 per cent of the chemical output. Of late, states of southern USA are heading for rapid development of chemical industry. The states like New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma are progressing in such a way that, within a few decades these southern states may equal the production of the north-eastern states.

In US, sulphuric acid is produced in many parts of the country. But the major sulphuric acid-producing states are Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana.

The ammonium products are manufactured in the northern states at Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee and Indiana.

Soda ash is mostly produced in the states of Ohio, Michigan, New York, Virginia and Texas. Caustic soda and chlorine are produced in the states of Ohio, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia.

All these heavy chemical products have a large and ready market throughout USA. The light chemical plants are the major buyers of these products.

Light chemical industry includes various products ranging from detergents, toilet products to pharmaceuticals. These products are secondary in nature and mostly produced from the basic or heavy chemical products. Several multinational companies control the industry in USA.

The internationally famous companies are now operating from USA, i.e., companies like Lever Brothers, Colgate and several other detergent producers, and Max Factor. Helene Curtis in toilet products has dominated international market for several decades. All these factories are also located within Atlantic coastal areas for export advantage.

2. Germany:

Germany is also a leading country in chemical industry. In Germany, the chemical industry began as early as in 1886 with the organisation and early growth of the dyestuffs and potash industry.

In Germany, chemical industry has been developed because of the certain favourable factors, such as:

(i)                Economic stability and research facilities,

(ii)              Availability of raw materials like salt, potash, limestone, dolamite, sulphur, etc.

(iii)            Development of thermal power, and

(iv)            Extensive market facilities.

The areas of chemical industry in Germany are concentrated in Rhine valley and Upper Saxony. The four main areas are the Ruhr region, Frankfurt region, Northern Rhine region and Upper Saxony region.

3. Russia:

Chemical industry is one of the most important industries in Russia. The early chemical-producing centres were largely concentrated around Moscow — Tula and St. Petersburg.

The present chemical industry has been developed in the following regions:

(i)    Moscow region, having centres at Moscow, Novomoskorsk, Voskresensk,

               Kazan, Gorky, Dzherzinsk and Yaroslav.

(ii)  St. Petersburg region.

(iii)Ural region.

(iv)Siberia and Far-East region.

4. China:

China has now emerged as a leading producer of chemicals, not only in Asia but also in the world. The development of chemical industry in China started in the plan period after 1950, when concerted efforts were made to develop Chinese chemical industry, especially heavy chemical industry.

Special care was taken to increase the production of caustic soda, soda ash, sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid. The effort made was so sincere that in the last three decades production increased threefold.  The major chemical-producing centres in China are located in its northern part. The urban centres of Nanking, Shanghai and Shantung contribute maximum of the chemical output. The other noted chemical factories are located at Manchuria, Fushun, Penki, Dairen and Anshan. The largest of the plants are located at Manchuria.

5. Japan:

The origin of chemical industry in Japan began only after the First World War. But since then, rapid growth of this industry has placed it in a high position. Although, during the Second World War, Japanese industries including the chemical industry were completely devastated. But, with herculean efforts, Japan was able to rebuild its chemical industry within a short period and surpassed its pre-war production level.

Most of the Japanese chemical plants are either newly constructed or completely rebuilt, so output and productivity is very high. All the plants are new, modernised and automated. Japan is deficient in raw materials. More than 80 per cent of its factories are entirely dependent on imported raw materials. The only raw material abundant in Japan is sulphur, deposited extensively by volcanic eruptions. Most of the chemical plants in Japan are located within the industrial agglomerations of Osaka-Kobe, Tokyo-Yokohoma, Nagoya, Hemagi and Kyushu.

6. United Kingdom:

In UK, chemical industry has been developed in the following areas:

(i)                The Tees valley,

(ii)              The Mursey valley and southern Lancashire,

(iii)            Tyne valley and Avon valley,

(iv)            Scotland, and

(v)              London region.

The leading chemical-producing centres are Lancashire, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Yorkshire, Leeds, Norwich, Middlewich, etc.

7. Italy:

Italy is considered as a leading producer of both light and heavy chemical products. The growth rate in the industry is quite high. Several reasons are responsible for the development of chemical industry in Italy.

These are:

(i)                Presence of vast amount of raw materials within the country, including limestone, dolomite, sulphur and potash.

(ii)              Availability of cheap hydel-power.

(iii)            Good transport system and market facilities.

The major chemical centres in Italy are Naples, Milan, etc.

8. France:

In France, chemical industry has developed in four areas, i.e., north-eastern region, Lorraine region, Leyons-Marseilles region and Bordeaux-Garonne region. The strong industrial infrastructure, abundant coal reserve, developed petroleum refinery industry and presence of several raw materials like salt, dolomite, limestone and potash facilitated the growth of chemical industry in France.

9. India:

India is now an important manufacturer of the chemical products. India produces 6 per cent sulphuric acid, 6.2 per cent soda ash and 4 per cent caustic soda of the world along with a large variety of other chemical products. The major centres of chemical industry in India are Mumbai, Kolkata, Sindri, Jamshedpur, Chennai, Bangalore, Trombay, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Amritsar, Delhi, etc.

10. Brazil:

Brazil is a significant producer of chemical products not only in South America but also in the world. It produces 5 per cent sulphuric acid, 3 per cent nitric acid and 4 per cent caustic soda to the world’s output. The main centres of chemical industry are Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minasgeras, Santos, etc.  Apart from the above, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Australia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Ukraine, Greece, Croatia, etc., are the other important countries, producing chemical products in the world.