In Brazil, the chemical industry plays a leading role in the development of many economic activities, actively participating of almost all industrial chains and complexes, without considering Services and Agriculture. According to the last data issued by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), relative to 2002, the chemical industry shares 3.3% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Drawing a comparison, in the United States (world's largest chemical industry) the chemical sector shares about 2% of the GDP. Considering Brazil's industrial sector, the chemical industry ranks second, with almost 13% of the manufacturing industry's GDP and standing second only to the food and beverage sector, with 15% of the total.

Net billing for all segments of the Brazilian chemical industry increased 21% in 2003, reaching $ 45.3 billion. In Reais, the billing increased approximately 28%, from R$ 108.9 billion in 2002 to R$ 139.4 billion in 2003. Petrochemical naphtha and natural gas by-products' prices were the main standouts, increased by pressures imposed through the conflict in the Middle East.

In 2003, Brazilian chemicals exports established a new record, reaching $ 4.8 billion, 25.41% more compared with the total exported in the previous year. Industrial chemical products accounted for 86% of chemicals exports in 2003, reaching $ 4.1 billions.

In Bahia, the Chemical and Petrochemical sector is one of the most important of the State's economy. It accounts for 35% of the State's industrial production and represents 18% of the private investments in Bahia. It is foreseen for the sector, up to 2007, R$ 3.994.900.727,49 of investments, a total of 74 projects, according to data from SEI (Bahia's Superintendence for Socioeconomic Studies).

Bahia's Petrochemical Pole is the biggest integrated complex in the Southern Hemisphere, having resulted from R$10 billion in investments, accounting for a third of the State's exports and for nearly half of the industrial production value.