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Economics & Business Surveys

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Our sector is critical to the UK economy. Our companies drive innovation and deliver real advantages to high-value downstream industries and society. 

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We work alongside member companies to build a broad understanding of our industry’s economic contribution. We aim to ensure continued growth in the chemical sectors’ contribution of £30.3 billion in annual value add to the UK economy, equivalent to an impressive 13.8% of all manufacturing. The sector is a major exporter of goods and is a significant job creator, with 138,000 employed in high-quality, well-paid jobs across the UK.

Our industry is one of the country’s biggest manufacturing exporters, sending goods to the value of more than £61 billion to other countries. The EU represents our most important market, but we continue to work closely with Government to inform and secure UK trade deals with other key chemical markets such as Japan and the USA. 

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Supporting your business
At the CIA we undertake a quarterly business survey of our membership to identify arising trends, gather consensus and evaluate industry feel regarding arising issues to communicate with government and the media on operating conditions for chemical manufacturers across the quarter. Make your voice heard and drive impactful change.
Helping you make informed decisions
Access to databases on various topics. We provide members with timely reliable data on any economic topic within the chemical industry.
Advocacy Representation
The CIA gathers industry insights through a quarterly business surveys to advocate for our members’ interests with policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders.
Showing why we matter
Helping businesses to show business’s economic, environmental and societal impact through our Economic Reports

Have your voice heard

Participating in our Business Survey means you are not only sharing insights but you are shaping the future of the chemical industry. Our CIA Business Survey helps us to identify emerging trends, highlight operating conditions for chemical manufacturers and advocate for your interests to government and media. Your responses directly inform our engagement with policy makers, enabling us to present a comprehensive picture of the challenges and opportunities facing our sector. 

What happens with the information collected?

Results from the business survey are discussed in the quarterly economic report. The data collected, and official data provided by the Office for National Statistics, is presented back to members for further analysis. A comprehensive economic report is then published, looking in detail at the topics discussed by members, in addition to the economic performance of the prior quarter and forecasts for the future.

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2024 Autumn Budget submission from the Chemical Industries Association

On 30 October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will deliver the Autumn Budget, accompanied by a full fiscal statement from the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). In a detailed submission, the industry presents 35 specific proposals for policy changes covering the Government’s recent industrial strategy, net zero, investment in people and innovation.

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