Luis Serrano, president of the Chemistry Industry Business Federation, presented the outlook for the chemical sector in 2011 at the last General Assembly. The estimates are positive, as they point to a sustained recovery in the sector in 2010, and even forecast that 2011 will see record highs in key indicators such as revenue and exports.

However, Serrano also noted the need for caution, since the sector’s recovery is based largely on its excellent performance in foreign markets, while domestic demand and consumption continue to show alarming signs of weakness.

This trend is endorsed by Professor Javier Peñas of the School of Science the University of Navarra, who believes that "the Chemistry industry seems to be glimpsing the end of the crisis, recovering much of the lost activity suffered over the past two years. This improvement is based primarily on the increase in exports. In fact, forecasts for foreign trade sales indicate that they will exceed 23 billion euros this year, just over 17% compared to 2009, and that they will grow by nearly another 17% for the coming year 2011."

"Considering the employment rate our Chemistry graduates, this news is undoubtedly positive. "It should be noted that the chemical sector directly employs some 130,000 workers in Spain, with indirect jobs estimated at approximately three times that figure," says Professor Peñas.