Mobile Menu

Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Georgia Culley Georgia Culley London, United Kingdom Last Updated: August 2024 SIC C20.130

Revenue

£3.2bn

2024-25

£3.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

5,293

Businesses

98

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

Over the five years through 2024-25, the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing industry’s revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 3.1%, reaching £3.2 billion. The performance of the industry has been mixed as it faces both internal and external pressures forcing it to adapt. Producers are compelled to invest heavily in R&D to meet compliance requirements, make their production process more sustainable and contend with fierce international competition. The industry supplies a broad range of industries and relies heavily on downstream demand, which has stabilised steadily.

Trends and Insights

  • The UK's inorganic chemical market has benefitted from a weaker pound. Exports have become more competitive, yet they face intense import competition.
  • Post-pandemic, hygiene demands are still high. Sales of chlorine and hydrogen are being sustained by cleaning trends and demand for colloidal metals.
  • The North West boasts notable infrastructure advantages for manufacturers. This can be seen in the region's power and shipping facilities, especially near Mersey, which significantly benefit inorganic basic chemical manufacturers.
  • Differentiation is a survival strategy for smaller manufacturers. Small firms can effectively compete against larger, established companies by producing less common and niche inorganic basic chemicals.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £3.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Energy price surge amid geopolitical conflicts hikes energy costs

  • The industry is heavily reliant on electricity for many of its production processes. Two commonly manufactured products, chlorine and caustic soda, are created by running an electric current through a saltwater solution, which takes up a lot of energy.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The inorganic chemical industry must adopt sustainable practices amid the fossil fuel shift

  • Societal shifts in attitudes towards fossil fuels force the inorganic chemical industry to reconsider its uses of finite resources.

Biggest companies in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd
452.6
Fisher Scientific UK Ltd
271.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Hypochlorites, calcium hypochlorite, chlorites and hypobromites, Silicon and Silicon dioxide. Hypochlorites, calcium hypochlorite, chlorites and hypobromites is the largest segment of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Silver and gold colloids shine in the healthcare boom

  • A colloid is any substance made up of particles larger than atoms but too small to be visible to the naked eye. Common examples include colloidal gold and colloidal silver.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in the industry manufacture a wide range of inorganic basic chemicals. These are compounds that typically do not contain carbon-hydrogen bounds, distinguishing them from organic chemicals. They are often produced in bulk and involve the large-scale conversion of simple raw materials into feedstock. These are then used as intermediate inputs by other manufacturing industries, including other components of the chemical sector.

What's included in this industry?

Hypochlorites, calcium hypochlorite, chlorites and hypobromitesSiliconSilicon dioxideColloidal precious metalsSilver nitrateCalcium and other carbonatesChlorine and other inorganic basic chemicals

Companies

INOVYN ChlorVinyls LtdFisher Scientific UK Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INORGANIC BASIC CHEMICALSOXIDECOLLOID

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 20.13 - Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The UK's inorganic chemical market has benefitted from a weaker pound. Exports have become more competitive, yet they face intense import competition.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Post-pandemic, hygiene demands are still high. Sales of chlorine and hydrogen are being sustained by cleaning trends and demand for colloidal metals.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The North West boasts notable infrastructure advantages for manufacturers. This can be seen in the region's power and shipping facilities, especially near Mersey, which signi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Differentiation is a survival strategy for smaller manufacturers. Small firms can effectively compete against larger, established companies by producing less common and niche...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Transition to sustainable manufacturing bolsters INOVYN. The company boosted its green credentials and future-proofed production by phasing out mercury cell operations and ad...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Fisher Scientific UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Fisher Scientific UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

UK REACH redefines chemical safety in manufacturing. As a comprehensive framework, it ensures inorganic basic chemical manufacturers protect both human health and the environ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchase costs soar as fuel and natural gas prices rise. Manufacturers procure minerals and other natural resources to make basic inorganic chemicals. High fuel and gas price...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £3.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 98 businesses in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing market in United Kingdom are INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd and Fisher Scientific UK Ltd

What does the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Hypochlorites, calcium hypochlorite, chlorites and hypobromites and Silicon are part of the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is INOVYN ChlorVinyls Ltd.

How competitive is the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Inorganic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Industrial Gas Manufacturing in the UK
  • Organic Basic Chemical Manufacturing in the UK

Complementors

  • Dye & Pigment Manufacturing in the UK
  • Fertiliser & Nitrogen Compound Manufacturing in the UK
  • Essential Oil Manufacturing in the UK

International industries

  • Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing in the US
  • Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing in Canada
  • Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing in Australia

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.