The petrochemical industry is organized in a chain composed of 3 categories: first-generation producers, employing over 5,000 Brazilians in the production of basic petrochemicals such as ethylene, propylene, and aromatics; second-generation producers, employing over 100,000 Brazilians in the production of petrochemicals for industrial purposes, such as resins, polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene, polystyrene, elastomers, and fibers; and third-generation producers, employing over 500,000 Brazilians in the transformation of plastics and rubbers, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, hygiene and cleaning products, paints and varnishes, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, and fabrics. In addition, there are oil refineries employing 73,000 Brazilians in the processing of crude oil, transforming it into a variety of derived products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, lubricants, and asphalt. These industrial processes generate a significant amount of heat and rely on water cooling towers to maintain controlled temperatures.

In Brazil, there are 3 petrochemical hubs generating over 160 billion reais annually, and there are 8 oil refineries generating approximately 430 billion reais annually.