Germany’s chemical industry dominates industrial energy use in 2020
Germany’s industrial sector consumed 3,747 petajoules of energy in 2020, marking a slight drop of 1.9% from the previous year. The chemical industry led the way, accounting for nearly a third of the country’s total industrial energy use. Natural gas remained the most widely used energy source, while electricity played a significant but smaller role in powering factories and production lines.
In 2020, the chemical industry stood out as Germany’s largest energy consumer, responsible for 29% of the total. Over a third of the energy it used went directly into raw materials for products like chemicals, fertilizers, and plastics. Companies such as BASF, the world’s biggest chemical conglomerate, and INEOS at its Cologne plant relied on energy-heavy processes like steamcracking. While exact figures for individual firms weren’t detailed, the sector’s overall consumption had fallen from over 1,210 petajoules in 2013 to around 870 petajoules by 2023.
Metal production and processing followed closely, using 22% of Germany’s industrial energy. Within the chemical sector alone, metal-related activities accounted for the highest share at 24%. Meanwhile, coke manufacturing and petroleum refining together consumed 10% of the total, with mineral oils, petroleum products, and coal each making up 16%. Electricity covered 21% of industrial energy needs, while natural gas dominated at 31%. The remaining 12% of energy was used as feedstock, reinforcing the chemical industry’s dual role as both a major energy user and a key supplier of materials for other sectors.
Germany’s industrial energy landscape in 2020 highlighted the chemical sector’s outsized demand, driven by both production processes and raw material needs. With natural gas as the primary energy source and electricity playing a supporting role, the data reflected a gradual decline in overall consumption. The figures also underscored the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels, despite shifts in specific industry shares and energy uses.
