What this market covers
Ships fitted with coated or stainless steel tanks to carry liquid chemicals, oils and fats in separate parcels. Shipowners order them and chemical firms charter them.
Typical segments
- Stainless steel tank ships
- Coated tank ships
- Product and chemical tankers
- Coastal tankers
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +181% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted -4% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €3.11 billion of products under CN code 89012010 (Sea-going tankers) from outside the EU in 2025. | 3.11 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 89012010 were up 181% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€1.11 billion), calculated from Eurostat values. | +181 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 89012010 to countries outside the EU were worth €972.2 million in 2025. | 972.2 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 89012010 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €56.4 million in 2025. | 56.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Korea, Republic of was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 89012010 to the EU in 2025, with €1.95 billion, or 63% of extra-EU imports. | 1.95 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 89012010 to the United States were €31.5 million in 2025. | 31.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Denmark was the largest EU exporter of CN 89012010 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €385.7 million. | 385.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 4,025 enterprises in NACE class C3011 (Building of ships and floating structures) in 2023. | 4,025 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C3011 had net turnover of €35.10 billion in 2023. | 35.10 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C3011 employed 119,918 people across the EU in 2023. | 119,918 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 604 private establishments in NAICS 483111 (Deep sea freight transportation) in 2025. | 604 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 483111 employed an average of 9,192 people in US private industry in 2025. | 9,192 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 483111 changed by -4% between 2020 (9,620 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | -4 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 483111 was $153,493 in 2025. | 153,493 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3105657601
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1106029560; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 3105657601
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 972205992
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 56416399
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, partner KR, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1947183744
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 89012010, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 31520080
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter DK, product 89012010, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 385722942
- Figure 7
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3011, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 4025
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3011, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 35100
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C3011, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 119918
- Figure 8
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 483111, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 11
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 483111, annual_avg_estabs 604
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 483111, annual_avg_emplvl 9192
- Figure 13
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 9620; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 9192
- Figure 14
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 483111, avg_annual_pay 153493
- Figure 11
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Shipping companies
- Chemical producers
- Commodity traders
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU chemical tanker market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €3.11 billion of goods under CN 89012010 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €972.2 million.
Where does the EU import chemical tanker from?
Korea, Republic of was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included China, Viet Nam, Marshall Islands.
Which EU countries export the most chemical tanker?
Denmark led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Poland, Germany.
How many US companies are in the chemical tanker industry?
BLS counts 604 private establishments in NAICS 483111 (Deep sea freight transportation), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the chemical tanker industry?
Eurostat counts 4,025 enterprises in NACE class C3011 (Building of ships and floating structures).
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