At the international level, the chemical industry in France has maintained its place as the fifth producing country behind the United States, China, Japan and Germany. It accounts for 4.4% of the turnover of the global chemical industry. The chemical industry in France contributes to economic development: with a turnover of 81.2 billion euros in 2007, it remains amongst the leading industrial sectors. Its added value of 16.9 billion euros (22.3% of sales) contributed as much as 9.6% to the added value of the manufacturing industry (2006 data).
In 2007, the sector accounted for 6.6% of manufacturing employment in France. 
The leading exporting sector in France ahead of motoring, the chemical industry represented over 11% of the manufacturing industry exports. Its trading surplus of 6.4 billion euros places it second in the ranking of industrial sectors behind aeronautical and space construction.
In terms of investment, the chemical industry ranks second in industrial sectors behind motoring and ahead of metallurgy and metalwork. Its expenditure rose to 2.8 billion euros, i.e. close to 14% of all industrial investments (2006 data).
Inresearch and development, the total expenditure budget (domestic and international) for R&D makes the chemical industry the sixth industrial sector, implementing more than 5.3% of the expenditure of industrial companies in France (2005 data, last available year).