Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
Sector Overview
The Chemical Sector is an integral component of the U.S. economy, employing nearly 1 million people, and earning revenues between $600 billion and $700 billion per year. This sector can be divided into five main segments, based on the end product produced:
- Basic chemicals
- Specialty chemicals
- Agricultural chemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer products
Each of these segments has distinct characteristics, growth dynamics, markets, new developments, and issues. The majority of Chemical Sector facilities are privately owned, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to work closely with the private sector and its industry associations to set goals and objectives, identify assets, assess risks, prioritize, implement protective programs, and measure effectiveness.
The Chemical Sector is dependent on, depended on by, and interdependent with a wide range of other sectors, including:
- Communications
- Critical Manufacturing
- Emergency Services
- Energy
- Food & Agriculture
- Healthcare & Public Health
- Information Technology
- Transportation Systems; and
- Water
Sector-Specific Materials
- Chemical Sector Training and Resources
- Read the Chemical Sector Snapshot (PDF, 2 pages - 940 KB)
Chemical Sector: NIPP in Action Video