EU chemicals sales were estimated at €476 billion in 2006. Sales to EU partner countries have more than doubled over the last ten years. The European internal market has had a very positive effect on chemicals. Removing both trade and non-trade barriers inside the EU area has been a key driver for the growth and competitiveness of the EU chemical industry. The internal market of 460 million consumers is a key factor of competitiveness, including Bulgaria and Romania this amounts to almost 500 million consumers. Already with the accession of the ten new Member States in 2004 the internal market has received an important push. By 2006, half of sales were intra EU (excluding domestic sales).