Germany: export turnabout

The data recently released by the German statistics office - regarding the import-export of plastics and rubber machinery in the first half of 2010 - show a modest growth at export (+2,5% with respect to January-June 2009) and an opposite trend at import (-2%). However, it shall be remarked that, still in last May, the sign at export was negative.
As regards sales abroad, there are strong contradictions among the major types of machines, in particular: injection moulding machines (that represent 15% out of the total) recorded a strong recovery (+38%) whilst extruders (9% share) still faced a considerable fall (-33%); flexographic printing machines and blow moulding machines (both account for 6%) filed +29% whilst moulds (18% out of the total) were stagnating (less than 2% increase).
The top destination markets of the German injection moulding machinery are, in order, United States (25 million euro the export value towards this country), China (some 20), Poland (almost 19).
As for import, apart from the generic customs codes, purchases of flexographic printing machines grew by 71% (54% supplied by Switzerland); on the other hand, still decreasing injection moulding machines, extruders (38% provided by Italy) and moulds.
According to a recent survey carried out by the field Association VDMA among its Members, similar shares of respondents believe their turnover in the first half of 2010 was good or satisfactory/normal, whilst 1/5 of participants declared it was not satisfactory.
In January-June 2010 - in comparison with the previous half - orders improved in particular from the domestic market, Western Europe, Asia (excluding China, that recorded a slower pace).
Expectations for the second semester of the current year are quite good, even somehow cautious: as a matter of fact, around half of the companies forecast a stable trend of orders, with better performances as regards Western Europe. An improvement is expected by one third of respondents, better for the domestic market.
As regards workforce, about one third of companies have planned to increase the number of employees whilst for the majority it will remain unchanged.