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The European chemical industry is facing severe challenges, and to overcome them it must accelerate its transformation process and explore new business models. If the transition hurdle can be overcome, a recovery in Europe’s chemical industry is expected. At the 59th annual meeting of the European Petrochemical Association (EPCA) held recently in Berlin, many attendees held this view. Ilham Kadri, president of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), said: “Berlin remains the ideal location to host this year’s chemical industry conference.” Brandenburg Gate has witnessed centuries of unity and division, hardship and rebirth. I can think of no symbol that better represents our industry – one that, despite having withstood trials, has already begun to show signs of recovery. ” Sania Magdeburg, Vice President of Business Development for Brenntag Specialities in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), organized a panel discussion on the aforementioned topics. Magdeburg said, “Innovation, technological expertise, and quality are Europe’s strengths.” We need to find new ways of production, develop products with higher added value, and focus on new areas of value such as the circular economy. All of this requires both policy support and consumer acceptance. I hope Europe can seize these opportunities, but it must speed up, as other **are also actively competing for business opportunities. ” Currently, the mood in Europe’s chemical industry is sluggish: weak demand, high energy costs, and cheap imported products continue to impact the market, with almost no one expecting an improvement in industry activity next year. Kadri said, “These are not abstract issues; they are real challenges that many of us here face every day. Yet times of crisis are often also opportunities to reshape ourselves.” ”Magdeburg noted, “Although the industry sentiment at this conference is not optimistic, there are no signs of panic.” We have been struggling in this predicament for years, having survived several crises recently, and may face even more challenges in the future. There is no panic in the industry, but people are worried that the duration of this crisis will exceed expectations, and no one knows when a turnaround will occur. Although certain specialized application areas such as nutritional chemicals and pharmaceutical chemicals have shown a certain degree of resilience, overall, the entire chemical industry continues to face market pressures. ” Looking ahead, Magdeburg believes that due to the widespread shutdown of production facilities upstream and the current pressures on infrastructure, the European chemical market will see an increase in imports, particularly in the commodity sector. It is precisely due to such pressures that European manufacturers need to explore different business models with speed as a key focus, with the support of regulatory authorities. Earlier this year, the EU introduced an Action Plan for the chemical industry, but this plan did not prevent further closures of chemical production facilities in Europe over the past few months. Magdeburg emphasized that one of Europe’s advantages lies in \"viewing Europe as a single region.\" She explained that to fully leverage the advantages of connectivity that come with being a member state of the EU, cross-border supply chain planning is crucial. All countries should work together to turn this advantage into a driving force for the industry’s future development. Kadri said, “An action plan alone cannot pay the bills or erase the pain caused by lost orders and closed factories, but it does represent a turning point.” This shows that Europe is listening to us, and listening is the first step. Our demands carry weight, our contributions are recognized, and we are not fighting alone. The real work lies ahead: turning commitments into action, turning policies into growth, and ensuring that Europe remains a place where businesses are willing to invest. ” Kadri said that the European chemical industry needs to achieve not just “survival,” but also “true success.” This requires the industry to proactively take on challenges and become a driver of market change, while also needing timely and consistent support from legislative bodies, regulatory authorities, and lobbying groups. Kadri emphasized, \"Our industry has faced difficulties on many occasions in the past, and it will continue to encounter challenges in the future, but through unity, resilience, and ambition, we will ultimately overcome everything.\" ”