The chemical industry is one of the key sectors driving the economy of the Valencian Community. However, it is facing an increasingly challenging environment shaped by regulatory pressure, rising energy costs, and growing international competition.
In this new interview with Mapex partners, we speak with Jesús Carretero, Managing Director of QUIMACOVA, to explore how the sector is responding to these challenges, with technology emerging as one of its key allies.
This perspective is particularly relevant to Mapex, which counts among its customers several QUIMACOVA member companies, including SPB Global, Colorobbia, Laboratorios Belloch, Compo Expert, and RNB.
Interview with Jesús Carretero, Managing Director of QUIMACOVA
How would you describe the current situation of the chemical industry in the Valencian Community?
We are talking about a very important sector, with an annual turnover of more than €8 billion and accounting for approximately 13% of industrial GDP.
It is also very well positioned and diversified, as it is present across more than 95% of productive sectors, and it has significant room for growth.
It is a highly skilled, well-prepared and flexible sector, capable of adapting its processes and products to remain competitive, although we are currently operating in a challenging environment.
What are the main challenges facing chemical companies in the Valencian Community right now?
There are many, but I would highlight the cost of energy and raw materials, regulatory pressure, international competitiveness, and the need for talent and new skills.
Let’s start with the cost of energy and raw materials. Why are they such a decisive factor?
In the chemical industry, some activities are energy-intensive, meaning they require large amounts of energy to manufacture their products. These products are then used by other industries, so any increase in energy costs ultimately has an impact across the entire value chain.
The same applies to raw materials. We depend on basic raw materials to formulate intermediate or end-consumer products and, when their cost increases, we have to pass that increase along the value chain in order to remain competitive.
To what extent do geopolitical tensions make this situation even more challenging?
To a great extent. Companies need to be prepared to absorb cost increases that can occur within a matter of days. We have seen this, for example, with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
You also mentioned increasing regulatory pressure. How can this be balanced with competitiveness?
Our sector shares Europe’s objectives around safety, sustainability and decarbonization. But all of this needs to be achieved without compromising consistency or competitiveness.
If regulatory pressure creates a burden that companies, particularly SMEs and micro-enterprises, are unable to bear, there is a risk that they will relocate their production to other regions where these costs do not exist.
We are competing in an international market against regions that do not face the same regulatory pressure. This creates a gap that we need to continue addressing so that we do not lose important markets such as South Africa, West Africa or even the European market itself.
Another challenge you mentioned is talent. What kind of professionals does the industry need today?
It is not simply about bringing in new professionals; we also need to update the skills of existing workforces.
In addition to professionals who can understand, interpret and implement all the new regulations emerging, we need profiles specializing in sustainability, increasingly skilled plant operators with expertise in digitalization, and specialists in maintenance, automation, data analysis, artificial intelligence and chemical regulation.
When it comes to technology, how digitally mature is the Valencian chemical sector?
It varies considerably. We have multinational corporations and large companies that are already well advanced in their digital transformation, with specific projects implemented and a strong focus on working with high-quality data. But we also have companies, particularly micro-enterprises and SMEs, that are still working with Excel.
Many companies believe that digitalization requires a major investment, but that does not necessarily have to be the case. You can start with a small project, have a clear idea of the benefit you want to achieve, test it and evaluate the results. You can then scale up progressively.
What do you think companies that are still at an early stage should prioritize?
Above all, data. There is no point in digitalizing simply for the sake of monitoring. You need to know what data you have, what data you want to obtain, and make sure that it is high-quality data.
This will then allow you to work with the right partner or solution and ensure that the project is successfully implemented, delivers tangible benefits and generates a return on investment. Ultimately, companies invest to achieve a high ROI as quickly as possible.
Artificial intelligence is a major topic of discussion. Where are you seeing the main applications of AI in the chemical industry?
One of the most interesting areas is predictive maintenance. AI can detect abnormal patterns earlier and help reduce downtime, costs and risks.
It also has significant potential for process optimization, as it can analyze production variables more quickly and identify combinations that can reduce consumption and improve yields.
Other areas include quality control, particularly through computer vision and data analysis, as well as energy and environmental efficiency, where AI can help reduce emissions and support projects aimed at recirculating or recovering resources such as water.
There is another AI application that is becoming increasingly important: document and regulatory management. Companies deal with a huge volume of documentation, and AI can help streamline this process, generate summaries and improve communication between departments and with the wider value chain.
You have been working at QUIMACOVA since 2006. Given all these changes, how has the role of the association evolved over the years?
When QUIMACOVA was founded, its main mission was to represent the sector, defend its interests and act as an intermediary with public authorities.
Over time, we have evolved into a service-oriented association that is much more closely involved in the day-to-day needs of companies. We provide technology monitoring, regulatory updates, business opportunities in third-party markets and insights into technological developments.
We have become a sectoral hub and a cluster, helping companies understand how legislation, trends and the market are evolving.
How important is QUIMACOVA’s collaboration with technology companies such as Mapex?
It is essential. Since 2009, we have had a model that brings together industrial companies with partner and technology companies. This creates very important synergies.
When we identify a need or challenge affecting the sector, we can rely on these partners to find the right solution and put it into practice.
What should a good technology partner bring to chemical companies?
They should bring industrial knowledge and experience. They also need to help companies scale their projects.
They must also ensure integration, data security and data ownership. And, above all, they need to support the company throughout the entire process, because ultimately, this is about people.
Finally, what will be the key factors enabling the Valencian chemical industry to remain competitive in the future?
The first is having a stable and predictable industrial policy. In our sector, we are talking about investments worth millions of euros, and companies need certainty in order to make those investment decisions.
We also need competitive and reliable access to energy. It is not enough to move towards renewables; we need the necessary infrastructure to guarantee the supply required by industrial processes.
And we need to continue reducing the regulatory burden, avoiding duplication and improving the support provided by public authorities.
And what role will innovation and talent play in maintaining that competitiveness?
They will play a key role. We need to accelerate innovation so that it reaches the market as quickly as possible and strengthen collaboration between companies, universities and technology centers.
We also need to make further progress in digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence, as these technologies can generate significant returns in a relatively short period of time.
And, of course, we need talent. Technical and vocational training profiles are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and we need to strengthen training in these areas.
All of this is part of a broader challenge: preserving Europe’s industrial autonomy. We have strong companies and talented people, and we need to continue investing in an industry that has proven to be both strategic and highly important to our economy.
Founded in 2003, the Asociación Química y Medioambiental del Sector Químico de la Comunidad Valenciana (QUIMACOVA) represents the region’s chemical industry and has more than 260 member companies. Its mission is to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness, represent the interests of its member companies, and support them in addressing regulatory, technological and environmental challenges.
