With a workforce of over 275,000 on the payrolls of over 2,650 businesses, the plastics processing industry is one of the key industrial sectors in Germany and the biggest employer in the plastics and rubber industry. As per a report, sales of EUR 49.3 bln were generated in 2006.
| With a workforce of over 275,000 on the payrolls of over 2,700 businesses, the plastics processing industry is one of the key industrial sectors in Germany and the biggest employer in the plastics and rubber industry. As per a report, sales of EUR 49.3 bln were generated in 2006.
In H1-2007, German plastics processing companies grew by 9.9% - with production rising by 8.5% and exports by 11.2%. Over the past decade, the export rate has increased from 25% to the current 36%, underlining the strength and competitive strength of German plastics processing companies.
Overall, the German plastic processing sector has recorded a Euro 53 bln sales turnover in 2007, crossing 50 bln Euros for the first time; growing by 7.5% in 2006. This 7.5% growth is about 3 times the country's GDP growth. Automotive and electronic sectors topped with almost 9.5% growth. The packaging sector grew by 5.5% in volume and 9% by sales. Other processed products, which include consumer goods, medical parts, sports and recreational goods, office supplies, and household products, saw sales growth of 6.6% last year. Only building and construction stagnated at 1.7% volume growth.
Domestic demand for German plastics goods increased by 6.4%, and exports grew by 9.8%. GKV members reached a new high with an export quota of 36.6% last year, despite the dollar/euro disparity. The success of the German plastics processing sector can be attributed to quality technical innovations and know-how, and the highly qualified staff at processing operations in the country. The number of German processing operations rose by 1.8% last year to 2780, and productivity/worker jumped by 4.5% in 2007.
Global production of plastics and rubber machinery is reported to have increased to EUR 19.6 bln in 2006, ranking Germany as the undisputed number one. From a 22.6% share in global production in 2001, German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers have captured a 24.9% share by 2006. German machine builders topped the charts with a share of 24.9% of global exports, ahead of Japan with 12.8% and Italy with 10.7% share, and 7% and 5.8% by USA and China ranking numbers four and five. German machine builders boosted sales by 11% in H1-2007, leading to positive forecasts for 2007. Sales estimates for 2007 have been doubled from 3.5% to 7%. With a total of EUR 22.2 bln, Germany 's plastics producers reported a 6.1% increase in sales in 2006, as production also increased by 2.7% to 18.5 mln tons. |
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