5 Largest Chemical Companies in the World

Below you can find the list of 5 largest chemical companies in the world. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list, please see the 15 largest chemical companies in the world.

5. SABIC

Sales 2019 – $32,488 m

Saudi Arabia based SABIC, a subsidiary of oil & gas giant Saudi Aramco, operates in petrochemicals, chemicals, industrial polymers, fertilizers, and metals. SABIC reported a revenue of $ 7.81 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 19% compared to the previous quarter, while a 11% decrease year-on-year.

4. LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB)

Sales 2019 – $34,727 m

Ducth chemical company, LyondellBasell, is the largest licensor of polyethylene and polypropylene technologies. The company experienced strong demand for polymers used in packaging and medical products, which proved it resilient in the market slump and gave profits a push. As a response to the slowed down automotive industry the company temporarily halted production at some of its plants in the Advanced Polymer Solutions segment for the automotive end markets.

3. Dow (NYSE:DOW)

Sales 2019 – $42,951 m

As one of the top three of the largest chemical companies in the world, Dow has a presence in over 160 companies and is a chemical raw materials provider to a number of industries. The company had net sales of $9.8 billion in first quarter, lower by 11% in the same period a year ago, due to lower prices in all operating segments due to a decline in global energy prices. The Company also  recorded lower volumes in China at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Sinopec 

Sales 2019 – $63,244 m

The largest distributor of petrochemicals in China, Sinopec, produces synthetic resin, synthetic fiber monomers and polymers, synthetic fiber, synthetic rubber and chemical fertilizers etc. The company reported a loss of $3.17 billion in the first half of 2020.

1. BASF

Sales 2019 – $66,594 m

After briefly losing its position to DowDuPont in 2018, BASF yet again emerged on the top of the largest chemical companies of the world commanding the greatest market shares in the industry. The German company produces a varied range of chemical products.  The company experienced a 5% sales decline in the third quarter of 2020, mainly due unfavorable currency effects. However, the Surface Technologies, Materials, Industrial Solutions and Chemicals segments exceeded analyst estimates for EBIT.  BASF expects a further improvement in the Group’s EBIT  for Q4, 2020. 

See also 11 Biggest Insurance Companies In the World and Top 10 Logistics Companies in the World