The 2026 release of the Global Chemicals Tracker (GChT) is live. It now tracks 1,320 plants across 97 countries/areas producing eight building-block chemicals: ammonia, methanol, ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Together, these plants hold nearly 790 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of operating capacity, with over 360 mtpa more in development.
The GChT builds on GEM’s Global Chemicals Inventory, which last year covered 868 operating plants in 80 countries/areas. This year’s release adds plant-level capacity data for the first time and follows plants through every stage, from announced projects to retired sites. That gives a much fuller picture of where the industry is headed and a first baseline for measuring its progress on decarbonization.
This year’s update includes:
- Expanded coverage to 1,320 plants, now including announced, construction, mothballed, retired, and cancelled plants alongside operating ones.
- Plant-level existing and developing capacity for all eight chemicals, plus planned start dates for new capacity.
- New data types: plant age and key dates, plant type, main production equipment, parent ownership, and four decarbonization technology fields (CCS/CCUS, electrified process heat, low-carbon hydrogen, and bio- or waste-based feedstock or fuel).
- A new interactive map and dashboard tool, and summary statistics by country, region, and Chinese province.
