Germany’s chemical industry association (VCI) has cautioned that escalating global conflicts could potentially disrupt the country’s access to crucial chemical supply chains and pharmaceutical products.
VCI Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Große Entrup stated to the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung that the risk of such disruption is “real”. He warned against assuming continued availability of goods on the global market, citing lessons learned during the coronavirus pandemic.
The VCI is urging Germany to proactively prepare for potential conflicts, emphasizing the need to anticipate scenarios where alliances may form against the nation. Große Entrup highlighted the growing reliance on foreign production, specifically noting that nearly all antibiotic production currently takes place in India and China due to a lack of economic viability for domestic German production.
The association stressed the importance of safeguarding Germany’s existing basic chemical industries, as these form a foundation for numerous other sectors, including automotive, electrical engineering, food production, energy and even defense. Maintaining these domestic capabilities, the VCI argues, is vital for broader industrial resilience.