C&EN 2025 Global Top 50 BASF Leads with $70.6B Sales 11 Chinese Firms Make the List

On July 22, C&EN released its 2025 Top 50 Global Chemical Companies rankings. BASF, with $70.6 billion in chemical sales, remains number one, outpacing Sinopec by $12.5 billion. Dow holds third place, while PetroChina climbs to fourth—reflecting China’s rising influence in the sector.

A record 11 Chinese companies appear in the top 50, matching last year’s number. Standouts include Formosa at 11th, Syngenta (Sinochem) at 13th, Rongsheng at 14th, Wanhua at 15th, Hengli at 18th, Shenghong at 23rd, Tongkun at 30th, Hengyi at 35th, and Xinfengming at 44th. Notably, PetroChina, Wanhua, Tongkun, and Xinfengming all moved up the rankings.

The 2025 entry threshold dropped to $8 billion, nearly $400 million less than last year. There are 40 companies with sales above $10 billion, two exceeding $50 billion. By country, China leads with 11 firms, followed by the US (10), Japan (7), Germany (4), the UK (3), and South Korea (2).

This year’s list underscores China’s expanding presence and a tightening market, with fewer firms surpassing the $10 billion sales mark compared to 2024.