The deceleration of growth in the chemical industry over the last five years is remarkable: all parameters (sales, extra-EU exports, extra-EU imports and consumption) have declined comparing the period 2001-2006 to the period 1996-2001, even though growth rates are still at considerable levels. Over the years 2001-2006, chemicals sales were growing slightly slower than consumption (3.7% versus 3.9%). The average growth rate of imports over the last five years (5.0%) exceeded that of exports (3.8%), whereas in the years before (1996-2001) the growth rate was not only at a much higher level, but exports and imports also grew at the same rate.