Chemical Sciences Scotland announces ambitions to grow exports by 50 per cent from £3bn to £4.5bn by 2020

Scotland’s dynamic chemical sciences sector today (Tuesday May 29) announces ambitious plans to increase exports by 50 per cent from £3bn to £4.5bn by 2020.

The announcement came as the industry’s collective voice, Chemical Sciences Scotland, unveiled its new blueprint to help deliver economic growth for the sector.

Scotland’s chemical sciences industry is the country’s second top export sector with exports worth around £3 billion. The Scottish chemical sciences sector accounts for 15 per cent of the UK industry, employing 14,000 directly and 70,000 through dependent services.

As part of the success story of the chemical sciences industry – which is second behind only whisky in terms of Scotland’s exports – Sasol Technology UK also today announces it is making a £1m investment in its research and development facility at St Andrews.

Over the past 60 years Sasol has become one of the world’s largest producers of synthetic fuels. It is an integrated energy and chemicals company which uses coal, oil and natural gas reserves to produce liquid fuels and chemicals.

Professor Robert Tooze, managing director of Sasol Technology UK (STUK), said: “It is highly appropriate that we are making this £1m investment announcement today, which is entirely self-funded. This builds on an earlier R&D grant from Scottish Enterprise that helped us diversify into gas to liquid (GTL) technology.

“We use the principles of nanotechnology to develop new generations of catalysts bringing in international experts where appropriate. The new investment is a custom made unit for high throughput testing of catalysts. This capability establishes STUK in Scotland as a global centre of excellence in this work throughout Sasol. Operation has just begun.”

Chemical sciences are seen by many as providing solutions to the environmental challenges such as high-performance polymers which allow the automotive industry to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient cars.

New insulation materials are also being manufactured to reduce carbon emissions from our homes. Over the next 20 years, the chemicals industry will be transformed by the increasing use of renewable feedstocks – to make the chemicals industry even more essential to peoples’ lives.

Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: “The chemical sciences sector is already of vital importance to Scotland's economy. It is Scotland's second biggest export sector, with exports valued at around £3 billion, and employs 14,000 people in Scotland.

"Chemistry has a key role to play in all of our lives, in the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the pharmaceuticals that help to keep us healthy.

“The sector is a great example of the innovation and skills there are in Scotland. I'm delighted to launch this strategy for industry – a blueprint for growth which I am sure will steer the sector as it goes from strength to strength.”

Chemical Sciences Scotland was set up in 2007 as a unique partnership of industry with Scotland’s world-renowned academic sector and government agencies.

Sandy Dobbie, chairman of Chemical Sciences Scotland, said: “When we set out on this journey five years ago we could not imagine how far we have travelled in terms of promoting the vibrancy and competitiveness of the chemicals industry in Scotland. As a result, the chemical sector ranks as Scotland’s number two export earner, behind only whisky, generating around £3bn a year in exports.

“Now the time has come to recalibrate our sights and focus on driving export growth and making Scotland a can do place to do business for the sector. That’s why we aim to grow our exports by 50 per cent. The chemicals industry also offers innovative low-carbon solutions to many of the challenges of the future when it comes to meeting our energy needs.”

Lena Wilson, chief executive, Scottish Enterprise, said: "Chemical Sciences Scotland has made significant progress since its inception in 2007. Strong export performance and continued growth underlines the sector's resilience and economic value, while its ambition, determination and achievements bode well for the future.

“We continue to support this industry, and its ambitious companies, to invest in growth. By working together, we can create a globally competitive 21st century chemical sciences sector-based in Scotland.”

The new blueprint will grow the economy by concentrating on export growth, the creation of a low carbon economy and growth through collaboration. The chemicals sector currently accounts for a quarter of Scottish manufacturing by turnover.