The production of chemicals is the main pillar of Switzerland's economy with sales mainly generated by exports. In 2001 chemical exports were valued at 25 billion US$ and accordingly accounted for about 30% of Switzerland's total industrial exports. The Swiss chemical industry targets the world's demand for highly specialised products and for this purpose it pursues a specific strategy in producing only a small quantity of very high value-added products.

The pharmaceutical sector dominates the chemical industry accounting for about 70% of Switzerland's total chemical production. Pharmaceutical producers in Switzerland include world known brands like Novartis and Roche and around 400 other smaller less known businesses, which also export worldwide. Switzerland in fact offers an ideal location for the production of pharmaceutical products for a number of reasons: Firstly the registration of new pharmaceutical products in Switzerland has an excellent scientific reputation and on average does not take more than 6 months, which is one of the most rapid rates in the world. Moreover Switzerland offers an ideal infrastructure for pharmaceutical producers with many excellent hospitals providing clinical tests.

The success of Switzerland's chemical industry in the future is highly dependant on its ability to cut costs and at the same time remain innovative. Only if the industry produces innovative products at competitive prices it will continue to do well in the global markets of today.