Sales of German plastics and rubber machinery are set to rise by 5% this year

Sales of German plastics and rubber machinery are set to rise by 5% this year

VDMA, the trade organisation that represents machinery manufacturers, expects a similar level of growth in 2004. It has also revised its estimate of incoming orders, from 5% growth up to 8% growth.

VDMA says this is due to orders for high-value plant in a number of machine segments during the first nine months of the year. Some of the growth in orders will be reflected in 2003 sales, while some will not be seen until 2004. It takes around five months for orders to turn into sales.

The renewed strength of the euro has had little effect on exports. China continues to provide high growth in sales, the US market remains “restrained”, but central and Eastern Europe and the non-EU countries in the Balkans and Turkey are providing good growth for German machinery makers, VDMA added.