Top 10 Global Chemical Giants Shaping Industries Worldwide

BASF remains the world's top chemical company, achieving a global sales revenue of $74.53 billion in 2023. With over 60 production facilities and 350 subsidiaries and offices across 41 countries, BASF has invested more than €10 billion in China alone.

BASF holds multiple industry-leading titles, such as being the largest global producer of antioxidants, TPU, PA66, PA6, and PBT. It is also the top supplier of automotive chemicals, dominating several specialized markets worldwide.

Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, emerged as an independent company in 2015 and is now a global leader in high-performance polymer materials. With around 50 production facilities and 13 R&D centers worldwide, Covestro's dominance is particularly notable in PC production, holding a 23% share of global capacity.

Additionally, Covestro ranks fourth globally in isocyanate production, leading in TDI capacity and securing the third spot in MDI production.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Midland, Michigan, Dow Chemical is a global materials science powerhouse with facilities across multiple countries. Its portfolio spans packaging plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings, and more.

Dow is the largest global producer of ethylene, polystyrene, vinyl acetate, dichloroethylene, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. With 2023 revenue of $44.62 billion, it ranks as the third-largest chemical company worldwide. Dow also leads in polyurethane, polypropylene, and styrene-butadiene rubber production and has a dominant 80% market share in photolithography materials for semiconductors.

LyondellBasell, a leader in polyolefin materials, produces over 6.5 million tons of polypropylene annually. In June 2024, it solidified its leadership by acquiring a 35% stake in Saudi Arabia's Natpet, adding 400,000 tons of annual capacity.

It is also the top global producer of propylene oxide derivatives and MTBE, ranks third in polyethylene capacity, and is a leader in medical plastics. LyondellBasell holds numerous proprietary technologies in polyolefin production, including Lupotech, Spherilene, and Spheripol.

Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, Eastman operates in over 100 countries with 14,500 employees. It is the largest global manufacturer of window films and a leader in polyester molecular recycling, aiming to recycle over 250 million pounds of plastic annually by 2025. Eastman also dominates the packaging industry with its polyester materials.

A subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, SABIC is a global leader in petrochemical production, including polyethylene, polyimides, and granular urea. It holds significant market positions in ethylene glycol, methanol, and fertilizers while also excelling in engineering plastics and compound manufacturing.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Mitsui Chemicals is a diversified chemical company with roots dating back to 1912. It is the largest global producer of ICROS™ tape for semiconductor wafers and materials for DVD lenses. It also leads in phenol production in Japan and holds a dominant position in XDI production worldwide.

Celanese, a global leader in chemicals and specialty materials, achieved $10.94 billion in revenue in 2023. It is the top producer of liquid crystal polymers (LCP), with an annual capacity exceeding 22,000 tons, and dominates in polyacetal and acetyl products.

LG Chem, a leader in advanced materials, is the world's largest producer of polarizer films and a significant ABS plastics manufacturer, with a projected capacity of 1.08 million tons by 2025. It is also a key player in OLED panels and automotive display materials.

Founded in 1879 and headquartered in San Ramon, California, Chevron is a global energy giant operating in over 180 countries. Chevron is the largest geothermal energy producer and a leader in oil and gas exploration, production, and petrochemical manufacturing. Its lubricant brands, including Delo and Havoline, enjoy global recognition.