Aaron Lee of Nu-Insight looks at what a sales professional needs in order to exceed in the chemical industry

Our industry, characterised by its diversity and complexity, presents unique challenges and opportunities for sales professionals. From the bustling automotive industry, the evolving renewable energy sector to buoyant innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, understanding how to effectively navigate these waters is crucial for achieving superior sales performance.

The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) has reported that EU27 chemical production fell by 1.9% from 2019 to 2020. It expects 3% and 22% growth in 2021 and 2022 respectively. However, “longer-term economic outlook remains highly uncertain due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its continued economic impacts”.

According to the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Mid-Year 2020 Chemical Industry Situation & Outlook, chemical volumes will contract by 9.3% this year, while shipments will decline by 13.5% on the back of a shrinking GDP and demand in key end use industries. Next year, they will grow by 12.3% and 14.5% respectively as the economy rebounds.