The industry comprises the businesses that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the fashionable world economy, it converts raw materials (oil, fossil fuel, air, water, metals, and minerals) into over 70,000 different products. The industry contains some overlap, as most chemical companies produce plastic additionally as other chemicals.

Various professionals are deeply involved within the industry including chemical engineers, scientists, lab chemists, technicians, etc. As of 2018, the industry comprises approximately 15% of the US manufacturing economic sector.