The level of development of the chemical industry in the countries of the world. The world chemical industry and its geography

The chemical industry today is the most important sphere of the world economy. It is the most dynamic of the branches of modern industry. Today there is no longer an economic branch, wherever chemistry has taken root.

Chemical industry of the world

Chemicalization of the economy is a developing direction of modern scientific and technological progress.

In the structure of the chemical industry, four major industry groups :

• basic chemistry;
• chemistry of organic synthesis;
• polymer chemistry;
• fine chemistry.

Rice. 1. Branches of the chemical industry.

In the global chemical industry, there is a clear desire to concentrate the production of high-tech science-intensive products. In this production segment, the main positions are assigned to four main regions: the USA, foreign Europe, East Asia and the CIS countries.

Over 75% of medicines and perfumes are produced in countries with developed economies, 20% are produced by developing countries and less than 5% are produced in the CIS.

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Japan occupies a leading position in the world in terms of drug consumption per capita.

Importance of the chemical industry in the world economy

Chemical enterprises act as suppliers of raw materials and materials for such industries as metallurgy, engineering, construction, and agriculture. Chemical production produces products without which it is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person. Among the products manufactured by the chemical industry are synthetic fabrics, cosmetics, perfumes.

Rice. 2. Synthetic fabrics.

Without the chemical component, the entire structure of modern health care would become ineffective. The importance and relevance of the chemical industry in the world economy cannot be overestimated.

One of the largest segments of the chemical industry in terms of output is the organic chemical industry.

The importance of the chemical industry in the world economy is quite large.

Pharmacology plays a significant role in the chemical industry. This factor makes the industry specific. Production volumes are not paramount here. The main importance in the pharmaceutical industry is given to the quality and sterility of products. Pharmacology is the most science-intensive area - research studies and experiments are regularly carried out here, the latest substances are synthesized with a high percentage of efficiency.

Rice. 3. Manufacture of fertilizers.

The agrochemical industry is an area that supplies artificial synthesis substances for agricultural needs. The current volumes of plant crops suitable for food and for technical needs would not be achievable without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

What have we learned?

We found out in which areas the latest achievements of this industry are actively applied. We learned which of the directions is the most science-intensive.

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When zoning the world chemical industry, economic geographers distinguish three of its main regions.

The leading place among them is occupied by the region of foreign Europe, which produces approximately 1/3 of all products in this industry. Before the First World War, the world's main chemical power was Germany. During the interwar period, the chemical industry began to develop rapidly in many other countries of the region. To an even greater extent, this applies to the period after the Second World War, when the petrochemical industry came to the fore, focusing mainly on imported raw materials. As a result, both petrochemistry and oil refining have moved to seaports (Rotterdam, Marseille, etc.) or to the routes of main oil pipelines.

Foreign Europe is only slightly inferior to the region of North America (30%), in which the leading role belongs to the United States. It was here in the 40s. 20th century the first petrochemical enterprises appeared, marking the beginning of a new stage in the development of the world chemical industry. In the first period after the end of the Second World War, which caused great damage to this industry in Europe, the United States produced almost half of all its products in the foreign world. The US chemical industry is very diverse. Its location was mainly influenced by the raw material factor, which often contributed to the huge territorial concentration of chemical industries. Thus, the world's largest petrochemical region has developed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, geographically coinciding with the oil and gas bearing basin of the same name.

The third region of world importance is East and Southeast Asia. Its core is Japan (18%), where a powerful petrochemistry arose in seaports on the basis of imported oil. Other sub-regions are China, which is dominated by the production of basic chemicals, and the newly industrialized countries, which specialize mainly in the production of synthetic products and intermediates. The favorable economic and geographical position on the most important ocean routes also contributes to the progress of the industry in this subregion.

In the 1990s there was the birth of another, now quite a large region of the chemical (petrochemical) industry. It was formed in the Persian Gulf zone. At the same time, the importance of the formerly very large region, now formed by the CIS countries, has declined. This fully applies to Russia, which retained its place in the top ten countries in the production of nitrogen, phosphorus, potash fertilizers and synthetic rubber, but was outside the top ten countries in the production of plastics and chemical fibers.

Russia, as part of the USSR, had a powerful chemical industry, but represented to a greater extent by industries not of the "upper" but of the "lower floors". In the 1990s the output of the chemical industry has been greatly reduced, and now Russia has lost a significant part of those positions that it previously occupied in world production (for example, mineral fertilizers, acids, alkalis, car tires, etc.). The branches of the "upper floors" suffered especially great damage. However, according to Table 114, Russia retained its place in the top 10 countries in the production of synthetic rubber and returned to the top 10 in the production of plastics. Along with this, in terms of the production of chemical fibers (150 thousand tons), it continues to lag behind very much.

Among the states of the region, the overwhelming majority of chemical industry products are produced by the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Great Britain (more than 50% in total). The most powerful in terms of industry development is Germany (26%). It is a leader in obtaining most of the chemicals and polymeric materials. The ecological situation is forcing the countries of the region to reduce or even liquidate many enterprises for the production of sulfuric acid, phosphate fertilizers with its use, and a number of others.

In the world's foreign trade in chemical goods, the role of Western Europe is exceptionally large: the region accounts for 2/3 of the turnover. The export quota is also very high - 40%, in the Netherlands - 70%, in Belgium 75%. The chemical industry in the region is much more dependent on foreign markets than Japan or the United States. Exports of chemical products are more than double their imports. Mostly expensive products of science-intensive industries of the industry are exported. Western Europe is characterized by a very large intra-regional exchange of these goods (73% in 1995). Outside the region, the industry's products mainly (by 2/3) go to Asia and North America, and most of the imported chemicals come from them.

North America is the second most important region of the chemical industry in the world (30% of the industry's products). Favorable prerequisites for its development were:

* exceptional wealth of the region in mining and chemical raw materials (common and rock salt, phosphorites, native sulfur), as well as hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas);

* the largest energy resources, especially coal and hydropower;

* sufficient water resources in the US and Canada to create water-intensive industries in the industry;

* an extensive domestic market for a wide variety of industrial and consumer chemical goods;

* powerful scientific and technical potential, which ensures the creation of innovative technologies and equipment for the industry;

* the industrial potential of mechanical engineering, which makes it possible to provide the industry with modern means of production.

The structure and volumes of output of chemical products both in the USA and in Canada were formed under the strong influence of the needs of the domestic market - the manufacturing sector. Therefore, there is a high proportion of inorganic chemical products (caustic and soda ash, sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, chlorine), which are widely used in the pulp and paper industry, non-ferrous metallurgy, and especially in the chemical industry itself. In terms of the production of these types of products, the United States and the region as a whole are leaders in the world.

Mining chemical raw materials and a number of inorganic products (ammonia, nitric acid, etc.) contributed to the creation of a powerful mineral fertilizer industry. Its production facilities, such as potash and phosphorus, are the largest in the world. Their development in the postwar years is directly related to the intensive chemicalization of agriculture in the United States and Canada, and later in Mexico.

The chemical industry is a type of industry in which the processing of raw materials by chemical methods is of key importance. The main materials used in this industry are various mineral raw materials and oil. The role of the chemical industry in the modern world is very great. Thanks to it, people can use various plastic and plastic products, as well as other products of oil refining. In addition, the industry provides explosives, fertilizers for agricultural needs, medicines, and so on.

Development

The beginning of the history of this industry is considered to be the industrial revolution, which took place at the beginning of the 17th century. Until the 16th century, the "science of substances" generally developed very slowly, but as soon as people learned how to apply this knowledge in industry, much changed. The very first product of the chemical industry was sulfuric acid, which still remains an extremely important substance and is used in many areas of human activity. At that time, this compound was mainly used in the processing of metal ores needed for the industrial revolution in large quantities. The first enterprises for the production of sulfuric acid were created in England, France and Russia.

The second stage in the development of this area was the need for mass production of soda ash. This substance was necessary to ensure the production of glass and fabrics.

At the first stage, England made the biggest contribution to the development of the industry. With the growing interest in organic chemistry, the development of this science was increasingly influenced by Germany, whose scientists are still considered among the best specialists in this field. At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the chemical production was located in this country, which, according to some analysts, provided German leaders with confidence in victory in World War I due to the high quality of explosives and advanced research on chemical weapons. By the way, it was German troops who used military poison gas for the first time.

Branches of the chemical industry

Now both inorganic and organic chemistry are relevant, many discoveries are made every year in these areas. The most promising developments are:

• Oil refining.
• Creation of medicines.
• Creation of fertilizers.
• Creation of polymers and plastics.
• The study of the conductive properties of substances.

Scientists have been working on the creation of an ideal conductor for several decades. If successful, humanity will be able to use the planet's resources much more efficiently.

Chemical industry in Russia

Petrochemistry

Petrochemistry is a key branch of the chemical industry in Russia. This is largely due to the extremely important role of the oil refining industry in the country's economy. Educational institutions annually graduate tens of thousands of petrochemical specialists. The state also allocates a lot of money to sponsor research in this area.

The annual sales volume of all petrochemical industries is more than 500 billion rubles.

Ammonia production

Togliattiazot is one of the leading ammonia producers in the world. Since recently, the company has been producing more than 3 million tons of gas per year, which is an exceptionally high figure. According to experts, the share of this company in the world production of ammonia is from 8 to 10%, the company is also engaged in the production of mineral fertilizers and occupies about 20% of the Russian market in this sector.

Fertilizer production

An important part of the industry is the production of fertilizers. On the territory of Russia there are very large deposits of raw materials for this industry. The production of resources to create chemical fertilizers is also well developed. In Soviet times, the best scientists worked to improve the efficiency of fertilizers, who made many fundamental discoveries in this area. Thanks to this, Russia is one of the most important exporters of fertilizers.

Pharmaceutical industry

The production of medicines and their components is a very promising area. Currently, this industry does not cover Russian needs, and the creation of many drugs has not even been established. Therefore, every year foreign investors, including large chemical concerns, invest in the development of this industry. Nevertheless, a significant increase in production volumes and product quality, according to analysts, will occur at best in ten years.

Chemical industry in the world

The most developed chemical industry is in Germany, Great Britain and the USA. That is, among European countries, the most advanced are usually the states that have made a certain contribution to the development of chemistry as a science. In the case of the United States, this is due to favorable conditions for the development of chemistry and pharmacology: a good economic environment, the availability of large raw materials and a developed transport system, and the luring of the best specialists from other countries.

In particular, there are 2 companies from Germany, 2 from Great Britain and one from the USA in the top five concerns with the highest profit.

The chemical industry is one of the avant-garde industries that ensure the development of the economy in the era of scientific and technological revolution. The development of the entire economy depends on its development, since it provides other industries with new materials, agriculture with mineral fertilizers and plant protection products, and the population with a variety of household chemicals.

The chemical industry has a complex sectoral composition. It includes:

· mining and chemical industry (extraction of raw materials: sulfur, apatite, phosphorites, salts);

basic chemistry (production of salts, acids, alkalis, mineral fertilizers);

· chemistry of organic synthesis (production of polymers - plastics, synthetic rubber, chemical fibers);

Other industries (household chemicals, perfumery, microbiological, etc.).

The peculiarities of the location of the chemical industry are determined by a combination of various factors. For mining and chemical - a natural resource factor determining, for basic and organic synthesis chemistry - consumer, water and energy.

There are 4 major regions of the chemical industry:

· Foreign Europe (Germany is in the lead);

North America (USA);

· East and Southeast Asia (Japan, China, Newly industrialized countries);

· CIS (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus).

The following countries are leading in the production of certain types of chemical products:

· in the production of sulfuric acid - USA, Russia, China;

· in the production of mineral fertilizers - USA, China, Russia;

· in the production of plastics - USA, Japan, Germany;

· in the production of chemical fibers - USA, Japan, Taiwan;

· in the production of synthetic rubber - USA, Japan, France.

The chemical industry has a significant impact on nature. On the one hand, the chemical industry has a wide raw material base, which makes it possible to dispose of waste and actively use secondary raw materials, which contributes to a more economical use of natural resources. In addition, it creates substances that are used for chemical purification of water, air, plant protection, soil restoration.

On the other hand, it itself is one of the most "dirty" industries that affect all components of the natural environment, which requires regular environmental protection measures.

Plastic (chemical industry product):

Production volumes are constantly increasing, plastic is used in all spheres of life and production. The largest areas of application of plastics: 30% containers and packaging, building materials, electrical engineering and electronics. Tens of thousands of different types and names of plastics are produced in the world. Main:

polyethylene

polyvinyl chloride

polypropylene

prolisterol

The production of basic types of plastics is developing most rapidly in the countries of the Middle East, China, that is, the production of basic types of plastics is transferred to developing countries (produced from oil and gas raw materials). Developed countries, closing the old capacities for the production of ordinary types of plastics, are developing the production of the latest types of plastics, "smart plastics" that can replace blood, self-repair, biodegrade, and so on.

Industrialized countries are increasingly specializing in the production of the latest science-intensive types of chemical products.

There are four main regions in the global chemical industry:

1. Foreign Europe, in the first place, France, giving 23-24% of world production and export of chemical products. The most “chemicalized” country in this region is Germany. After World War II, the petrochemical industry came to the fore in this region, oriented mainly to imported raw materials. This led to a shift in the chemical industry to ports (Rotterdam, Marseille, etc.), as well as to the routes of large oil and gas pipelines from Russia (this mainly applies to countries).
2. North America. Particularly distinguished here is the world's largest producer and exporter of chemical products (about 20% of world chemical production and 15% of its world exports).
3. East and Southeast Asia. Japan stands out here (15% of world production and exports of chemical products), China, and Korea.
4. CIS, where it is allocated (3-4% of world chemical production).

In addition, a very large area specializing in the production of chemical products (mainly semi-products of organic synthesis and fertilizers) has developed in the Persian Gulf zone. The raw material for production here is the huge resources of associated (oil production) gas. The oil-producing countries of the region, Iran, and others, provide 5-7% of the world's chemical products, which are almost entirely export-oriented.

Outside these regions, the chemical industry is developed in and other countries.
Placement of branches of the chemical industry.

Among the industries, the leading place is occupied by the industry of polymeric materials, based on oil and gas or petrochemical raw materials. For a long period of time, the raw material base for the industry of polymeric materials almost everywhere was coal-chemical and vegetable raw materials. The change in the nature of the raw material base also significantly affected the geography of industry - the importance of coal regions decreased, the role of oil and gas production areas, and coastal regions increased.

At present, the most powerful industry of organic synthesis is in economically developed countries that have large (USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Russia, etc.) .).

All of the above countries occupy leading positions in the world production of synthetic resins and plastics and other types of synthetic products. Of the polymer industries, only the production of chemical fibers shows a shift towards developing countries. In this type of production, along with the traditional leaders - the USA, Germany, etc., China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and India have also become major producers in recent years.

Unlike the industry of polymeric materials, the mining and basic chemistry industries are widely represented not only in economically developed countries, but also in developing countries.

The leading producers of mineral fertilizers are China, USA, Canada, India, Russia, Germany, Belarus, France,. At the same time, in terms of mining and processing of phosphorites, along with the USA, (, ), Asia (, Israel), the CIS (Russia, Kazakhstan), Christmas Islands and are distinguished. The vast majority of world production and processing of potash salts is carried out by the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Russia, Belarus.

The main raw material for the production of nitrogen fertilizers is. Therefore, among the most important producers and exporters of nitrogen fertilizers are, first of all, countries rich in natural gas (USA, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, the countries of the Persian Gulf). Large quantities of nitrogen fertilizers are also produced by France, Germany, Ukraine, China, India, whose nitrogen fertilizer industry is closely connected with these countries.

Sulfur producing countries - USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Poland. Ukraine, Russia, Japan, etc. The largest producers of sulfuric acid are the USA, China, Japan and Russia (they account for more than half of the world production).

Geography of individual branches of the chemical industry