Chemical Manufacturing

Market – Key Facts

Ontario's chemical industry has a long history dating back to the Second World War with the need for synthetic rubber. Today, 23 of the 25 largest chemical companies in the world are in Ontario.

A Snapshot of Ontario's chemical industry:

• Value shipments in 1997: $10.9 billion
• Total employment: 47,000
• Number of firms: 631
• Exports in 2000 (estimated): $6.3 billion

All figures in US dollars. Can$1.00 = US$0.673
Source: Statistics Canada, 2000
Source: Ontario Investment Service (www.2ontario.com), April 2005

Ontario is Canada's biggest chemical producer, accounting for:

• More than half of all chemicals (55.8% in 1997) produced in Canada.
• Average annual labour productivity growth of over 5% (vs. 2.6% growth in U.S.)
• Birthplace of Responsible Care®, the chemical industry's global initiative to ensure the safe and environmentally sound management of products and processes.
• Chemical products are used in Ontario's huge vehicle parts industry, in the fastest growing plastics industry, Ontario's telecommunications and technology based industries.
• Anticipated growth in demand for elastomers (mainly automotive) and reformulated coating and adhesives containing little or no solvent (construction products industries, durable household products and transport equipment)
• Key locational advantages that have historically drawn large chemical companies to Ontario will becomes magnets for smaller specialty chemical firms in the next few years.
• More than 50% of the population and 50% of the manufacturing activity in North America is within a day's drive of Southern Ontario.
• The demand for Ontario exports continues to grow. Exports are estimated to grow at a significant rate Between 1993-2000 the industry experienced anannual compound rate of growth of 12.3%.

Canada's Chemical Industry

Brantford·Brant Recent Investments

• Apotex Pharmachem Inc.- $22 million, office/laboratory/manufacturing expansion resulting in 68 new jobs
• Methapharm Inc. / ACIC - $1.47 million, consolidat­ed and expanded existing operations into new 19,500­ sq.ft. Methapharm employs 30 people and ACIC has a staff of 15. Expansion resulted in the addition of 8 new positions.

Brantford·Brant's Advantages

• Local market presence that includes S.C. Johnson and Son, The Nu-Gro Corporation, JEMPAK Canada Inc., Home Hardware, Apotex Pharmachem Inc., Methapharm Inc./ACIC.
• High quality, skilled workforce
• Competitive wage levels
• Low cost electricity
• Cost competitive business conditions
• Proximity to McMaster University, one of North America's top 10 Engineering Schools
• Within 80-miles of nine major Universities and eight colleges
• Proximity to major US and Canadian automotive and plastics markets

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