EU exports and imports less PIC chemicals in 2019

ECHA/NR/20/42

ECHA’s latest annual report on the exports and imports under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation shows ethylene dichloride as the most exported and benzene as the most imported PIC chemicals in 2019.

Helsinki, 15 December 2020 – Ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichloroethane) was the EU’s most exported PIC chemical in 2019. Ethylene dichloride is predominantly used to produce polyvinyl chloride or as a solvent and the 178 000 tonnes exported represents an increase of more than 30 % compared to 2018.

The next most exported chemicals were chlorate and benzene. The quantity of exported chlorate remained steady compared to previous years, at about 121 000 tonnes. While benzene exports decreased by almost 60 % compared to 2018, where it was the most exported PIC chemical.

Overall, the total amount of exported PIC chemicals has decreased for the second year in a row by around 13 %, from 708 000 tonnes in 2018 to 619 000 tonnes in 2019.

Three most exported PIC chemicals:

Despite an 11 % decrease compared to 2018, the 397 000 tonnes of benzene imported into the EU in 2019 keeps it as the most imported PIC chemical – counting for almost 80 % of all PIC chemicals imported into the EU. Benzene is used to make plastics, resins, synthetic fibres, rubber lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides.

As in 2018, ethylene dichloride was the second most imported PIC chemical, however, imports significantly rose by 41 % in 2019, to reach almost 89 000 tonnes. There was also a steep rise in the import of lead compounds making these the third most imported PIC chemical in 2019. In 2019, the total amount of PIC chemicals imported into the EU was 502 000 tonnes – a decrease of more than 8 % compared to 2018.

Three most imported PIC chemicals:

Background

Article 10 of the PIC Regulation requires exporters and importers to give information about the annual trade of Annex I chemicals to their designated national authorities (DNAs) by 31 March of the following year. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline for companies to submit their data on exports and imports in 2019 was extended from 31 March to 31 May 2020.

Each EU Member State then must provide aggregated information for ECHA to summarise at Union level and make the non-confidential information publicly available.

22 Member States and the United Kingdom provided data to ECHA on the export of PIC chemicals from the EU in 2019. This included data from 511 exporters (an increase of almost 10 %, and one more Member State than in 2018). Five Member States declared that they had not exported PIC chemicals.

19 Member States and the United Kingdom provided data on imports of PIC chemicals into the EU in 2019. This included data from 136 importers (a decrease of approximately 11 %, and the same number of Member States as in 2018). Eight Member States declared that they had not imported PIC chemicals.