Sales were boosted by a strong performance in building products

Sales were boosted by a strong performance in building products

German plastics converters expect to end 2003 with increased sales of 3%, following a flat performance in 2002. This will lift annual sales to E41.9bn. GKV, the organisation that represents companies in the sector, said one factor behind the rise was a strong performance in building products, which grew at more than 6%.

GKV technical parts division managing director Wilhelm Crцssmann said: “We did not expect that.” He also noted that semi-finished goods and packaging products both grew by more than 4%. Another positive factor in 2003 was the 1.5% growth in employee numbers. Crцssmann expects the sector to grow at 2.5-3% this year. This would give it a value of at least E43bn.