Chemicals is the third-biggest industry in Lithuania after oil refining and food production. Total sales in 2016 were €1.63 billion, down from €1.89 billion in 2015.
Lithuania
Lithuania
Chemical industry snapshot
A leading industry
How are we doing?
A strong exporter
Chemicals were 12.4% in 2016 compared to 10.9% of Lithuania’s industry exports in 2016 and have been growing in recent years. The main products are phosphoric and nitrogen fertilizers and plastics, notably PET.
A nascent life sciences, pharma and biotech sector is growing fast, and exceeded €300 million of annual sales. The chemical industry is dispersed around the country, including coastal areas. It employed 5,000 people in 2016.
Preparing the future
Strengths
- Well-educated labour force
- A university and research and university base with newly-created R & D centres
- Easy access to and expertise in the Russian markets
- Convenient logistics for road and sea transport
- Implementation of quality standards (mainly ISO) is widespread
- Constructive dialogue with the authorities
Weaknesses
- High prices for energy including natural gas
- Heavily reliant upon imported raw materials
- Government deficit creates pressure to increase taxes and fees
Our contribution to a competitive Europe
Lithuania has set up three integrated Science, Studies and Business Centres (“Valleys”) designed to aid the development of its chemical industry. They are Sunrise Valley at Vilnius; the Centre for Physical Sciences and Technology at, Vilnius; and SANTAKA , (pharmaceuticals and, life sciences) at Kaunas.
Two of Lithuanian six proposed Smart Specialisation priorities are related to chemistry: medical and pharmaceutical engineering and new functional materials.