Chemical SMEs defined by numbers

    16 July 2010

    These facts and figures show that chemical SMEs may be small, but they are a significant and essential part of the global industry

    406 - The number of US companies with one to 19 employees involved in plastics material and resin manufacturing
    SOURCE: US Census Bureau

    Fewer than 500 employees - The US definition of an SME: "We define SME the way the Small Business Administration does - below 500 employees. However, most of our member companies (80%) are 100 employees or less and some people use that as the barometer internally"
    SOURCE: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

    2.31bn tonnes - The amount of material moved by the UK's Chemical Business Association (CBA) member companies in 2008
    SOURCE: CBA

    100% - The number of members signed up to Responsible Care
    SOURCE: CBA

    6 - Number of incidents per million tonnes moved in 2008
    SOURCE: CBA

    17,093 - The number of micro enterprises operating in the EU chemical industry, having less than 10 employees.These provide 3.8% of employment and generate nearly2% of sales
    SOURCE: Cefic/Eurostat

    23m - The number of SMEs in the EU, providing around 75m jobs and representing 99% of all enterprises
    SOURCE: EU

    96% - The percentage of European chemical companies that are SMEs, having less than 250 employees, providing 37% of all jobs and generating 30% of sales
    SOURCE: Cefic/Eurostat

    41,123 - The number of enterprises operating in the EU chemical industry (excluding the pharmaceuticals sector), providing employment for 1.8m people in 2007
    SOURCE: Eurostat

    <250 - The number of employees the EU defines as an SME: "The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding €50m [$64m], and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding €43m"
    SOURCE: EU

    6 - The average number of employees in an EU enterprise
    SOURCE: EU

    source: www.icis.com