ECHA 2024 Report: Major Decline in Hazardous Chemicals Trade – Is Your Business Ready for This Change?

The latest report published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reveals a dramatic decline in hazardous chemical trade in the European Union in 2024. While the decrease in export and import volumes of benzene-containing substances has pulled down the overall figures, the other side of the coin tells a different story: regulatory compliance has become more complex than ever.

So, why are compliance processes becoming more difficult while trade volumes are declining? And how does PierCompliance provide an advantage to your business in this process?

Key Highlights from the ECHA 2024 Report

According to data published by ECHA under the PIC (Prior Informed Consent) Regulation;

• Benzene Impact: Total export volume decreased by 97%, while imports decreased by 53%. The main source of this decline is the reduction in trade of benzene-containing substances.

• Pesticide Increase: Contrary to the general decline, exports of banned or restricted pesticides increased by 34%, reaching 232 thousand tons.

• Company Responsibility: More than 550 companies from 24 EU countries reported export data, while 226 companies from 23 countries reported import data.

Does Risk Decrease When Trade Volume Declines?

The report shows that when benzene is excluded, there is actually a slight increase in hazardous substance trade. This situation whispers a critical truth for the chemical industry: regulations are tightening, inspections are increasing, and the cost of reporting errors is rising.

This is exactly where digital transformation and expert support become vital.

Navigate the Regulatory Labyrinth with PierCompliance

The trade of hazardous chemicals is not just a logistics operation, but also a massive data and regulatory management challenge. PierCompliance is by your side to manage this complex process highlighted in ECHA's current reports:

• Automated PIC Reporting: Quickly complete export/import notifications expected by ECHA every March, free from manual errors.

• Current Regulation Tracking: Instantly integrate every update from ECHA's PIC List or REACH into your system. Be the first to know about changes in substances like benzene or chlorate.

• Risk Management and Traceability: Keep track of which chemical is sent to which country with which restrictions through PierCompliance's end-to-end tracking systems.

• Data Accuracy: Overcome the "data gaps" problem seen in ECHA reports with our systematic data entry and control mechanisms.

Conclusion: The Future of Trade is Built on Compliance

2024 data shows that the chemical sector is evolving towards a more transparent and controlled trade structure. Regardless of your trade volume, ensuring regulatory compliance is not only a legal requirement but also a prestige indicator in the global market.

If you also want to professionalize your ECHA processes and transform the regulatory burden into an operational advantage, get acquainted with PierCompliance solutions.