Presse-Information

Chemical Industry in Transition: New Report Analyses the Status Quo and Outlines Strategies for Competitiveness amid Transformation

DECHEMA e.V. from Germany and VITO/Energyville from Flanders (Belgium) have published the final report of the project 3C-VaCS (Trilateral Chemical Region – Value Chain Structures). The report analyses the current state of the chemical industry in the trilateral chemical region consisting of Flanders, the Netherlands, and North Rhine-Westphalia, and shows which steps can ensure competitiveness and climate neutrality, despite the energy crisis and cost pressure. 

On May 13, 2026, the project partners presented the report to representatives of the European Commission and the Critical Chemical Alliance at a virtual event. It is intended to serve as a scientifically sound basis for industrial and climate policy decisions at the EU level. 

Steam crackers produce basic chemicals such as ethylene and propylene, which form the starting point of most chemical value chains and underpin a wide range of downstream products, from materials, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods to components essential for a climate neutral economy. 

“The chemical industry of the trilateral region is a backbone of the European economy – but it is under enormous pressure. Our report shows that international competitiveness and transformation must go hand in hand if Europe is to preserve its industrial base while achieving its climate goals,” says Dr. Florian Ausfelder, Head of the Energy and Climate Division at DECHEMA e.V. and one of the report’s authors. 

The final report provides an up-to-date and detailed analysis of the petrochemical value chain in the trilateral chemical region, which – starting from the steam cracker – forms a central foundation of chemical production. It also outlines possible development pathways up to 2050. Key findings include: 

• The cost and energy crises of recent years have significantly weakened the competitiveness of European chemical production.
• Investments in climate-friendly technologies such as CO2 capture, electrification, and sustainable feedstocks are technically feasible but require reliable policy frameworks.
• The close interconnection of sites in Flanders, the Netherlands, and North Rhine-Westphalia creates synergies and strengthens supply chains as well as innovative capacity.
• However, this strong network also creates interdependencies: supply-chain disruptions in one region can affect the others, making diversification essential. The closure of individual facilities cannot be viewed in isolation.
• A coordinated, realistic Europe-wide infrastructure plan for electricity, hydrogen, and CO2 networks is a key prerequisite for successful transformation.
• Current policy frameworks are insufficient to support chemical industries to remain or become competitive throughout the energy transition. The report highlights several complementary options, that were discussed with relevant industrial stakeholders. 

“Our study shows that coordinated planning is essential for a cross-border, cross-sector CO₂ and hydrogen network to minimise costs and avoid stranded assets. Such an integrated approach can provide structural support to Europe’s chemical clusters, helping to combat carbon leakage while strengthening industrial competitiveness,” says Pieter Lodewijks, Program Manager Sustainable Energy Systems Assessment & Modelling at VITO/Energyville. 

The full final report is available for download on the DECHEMA website and the VITO/EnergyVille partner pages.

About the 3C VaCS Project

The Trilateral Chemical Region – Value Chain Structures (3C VaCS) project, funded by the Flemish and Dutch governments, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Chemical Industry Association of North Rhine-Westphalia (VCI NRW), was jointly carried out by VITO/EnergyVille, DECHEMA e.V. and TNO. Its aim was to develop new perspectives for a more resilient, climate-neutral, and competitive chemical production in Europe, based on industrial and trade data as well as techno economic modelling.

VITO, one of Europe's leading research centres with 1,300 employees, turns scientific insights into groundbreaking technological innovations, AI solutions, and policy advice. We do so with a single objective: to help the world thrive for at least 1,000 more years. As a science-to-technology partner, we support companies, governments, and society in their sustainability transition. With our multidisciplinary approach and unique lab, scale-up, and testing infrastructure, we create practical technological innovations. We accelerate progress towards a regenerative economy that reinforces planetary boundaries (prioritising electrification and circularity), smart climate solutions for resilient and secure ecosystems, and a healthy living environment harmonising humans, industry, agriculture, and nature. 

DECHEMA Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V. (Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology) brings together experts from a wide range of disciplines, institutions and generations to stimulate scientific exchange in chemical engineering, process engineering and biotechnology. We identify and evaluate emerging technological trends and facilitate the transfer of research results into industrial applications. DECHEMA has over 5,000 members - individuals, institutions and companies. Together with DECHEMA Ausstellungs-GmbH we are the organizers of ACHEMA, the world forum for the process industry. 

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