Chemical industry snapshot
Updated with 2025 data
The Republic’s second-largest manufacturing industry
The Czech chemical industry spans petroleum refining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and rubber and plastics processing (NACE 19.2, 20, 21, 22).
Chemicals play a key role in the Czech economy. This Integrated sector is the second largest manufacturing industry in the Czech Republic by sales, after automotive. The main chemical clusters are in North-West Bohemia, North Moravia and Central Bohemia, but plants can be found throughout the whole Republic.
From motor fuels to tyres
Products include motor fuels, heating oils, lubricants, paraffin and asphalt, inorganic and organic bulk chemicals, fertilizers, basic petrochemicals, plastics, synthetic resins and rubbers, as well as paints, dyestuffs and pigments, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, tyres and other rubber products and plastics materials.
Bio-fuels and bio-chemicals are starting to play bigger role in the economy. Hydrogen is already produced in annual quantity of more than 100 kt indicating further development esp. of “green hydrogen”.
Energy Impact
The performance of the chemical industry, one of the most important industrial sectors in the Czech Republic in 2024 was further impacted by a high energy prices (natural gas and electricity) which caused a gradual increase in prices with a decrease in the profitability of the sector and limits extra-EU exports.
The position of the chemical sector is still 2nd-3rd among the manufacturing industries in the country with a share of 12,9% in total production, 12,3%in profit generation and about 11% in number of employees, investments and wages, see Figure above.
Collaboration between industry and academia is working well.
How are we doing?
Strengths
- Well-educated workforce
- Strategic central European location
- Unique national pipeline network crude oil, natural gas, motor fuels, ethylene, ethylbenzene, C4-fraction
- Longstanding history and tradition of chemical production
- Ongoing investment
- A significant manufacturer of industrial and agricultural tires and plastic automotive parts
- Excellent cooperation between companies and unions
Challenges
- Relatively high energy and input costs natural gas, electricity and water
- Dependence on imported raw materials, especially crude oil and natural gas
- Burdensome Czech and EU legislation
- Insufficient scale economies
Our contribution to a competitive Europe
The Czech Republic favours a market-led economy, enabled by framework conditions in energy, research, education, infrastructure and other areas. These are backed by a national Smart Specialisation strategy and 14 regional Smart Specialisation strategies. Chemical recycling is becoming one of the key focus for development and implementation.
Support of Education
The Association of Chemical Industry of the Czech Republic supports education in chemistry, with the “Find the best young chemist of the Czech Republic” (more than 22000 children participated in the 14th annual competition in 2025, and the “Teach chemistry attractively” with the selection of 11 best projects through social media – short video.
Industry leads
The Association of Chemical Industry of the Czech Republic promotes links with research and other industries via the Czech Technology Platform for SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY, the Czech Technology Platform PLASTICS, the Czech Bio Technology Platform and CO2 Czech Solution Group. These focus on new (nano) materials, effective and flexible processes, biotechnologies, renewable resources, bioplastics and recycling of plastics and other materials and CCU reflecting currect challenges brought by Chemical Strategy for Sustainability and Action Plan for Chemical Industry.
Chasing added value and fosil sources replacement
- Opportunities for growth lie in the production of high value added products, notably nanomaterials, speciality chemicals, incl. explosives, polymers
,and bio-chemicals. - Traditional commodities (monomers, polyolefins, fertilizers) remains key basis for the sector with focus on energy optimisation and replacement of fossil energy sources.
Source: Annual Review of Chemical Industry Development in the Czech Republic 2024
