The chemical industry is one of the pillars of the European economy. The industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) provides performance for the chemical industry in the first quarter of 2020, in particular, the dynamics of industrial production, sales of goods, foreign trade.
Analysis of international trade statistics shows that different groups of the European Union (EU) member countries reacted differently to a ban on imports of certain types of food products (hereinafter referred to as «sanctioned goods») by Russia in August 2014, which also implies a ban on transit traffic.