Plastics production in Germany declining

The decline in industrial production in the EU and especially in Germany led to a decline in demand for plastics from customer industries in the third quarter of 2024. The German plastics industry recorded a corresponding decline in economic indicators. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the production of plastics in primary forms fell by 2.4 percent compared to the previous quarter.

Producer prices fell by 0.7%, which is due in part to falling raw material costs. The industry's turnover fell by 1.3% to 6.7 billion euros. Foreign trade also declined. According to the industry association Plastics Europe Deutschland, there are currently no signs of a rapid recovery in demand.

"In my view, the decline in exports and investments, two pillars of German competitiveness, is particularly worrying," said Christine Bunte (in the picture), Managing Director of Plastics Europe Germany. "The necessary transformation to a climate-neutral circular economy is made even more difficult under these conditions. In addition to competitive energy prices and the reduction of bureaucratic burdens, a new federal government therefore needs targeted investment incentives in circular economy technologies such as the collection, sorting and recycling of plastic waste."