While polymer output increased, sales suffered, according to the VKE association

While polymer output increased, sales suffered, according to the VKE association

Polymer production in Germany rose 1.8% in 2003 compared with the previous year, according to the VKE association of German plastics producers. Speaking at the VKE’s annual results conference in Frankfurt today, president Dr Fred Baumgartner reported that polymer output increased to 16.8 million tonnes last year. However, in terms of sales the industry suffered its third consecutive year of decline with turnover falling 2.4% to E18.08bn.

PET production grew by just 5% to 420,000 tonnes, plummeting from its 2002 and 2001 growth rates of more than 30%. “Following the switch to PET bottles last year by many filling companies on account of the introduction of the single-trip deposit system, it is amazing that the increase did not come out higher,” Baumgartner said. He did not offer any explanation.

Growth in PP production overtook PET, posting a 6.3% increase to 1.7 million tonnes last year. PS and HDPE output fell 3.1% and 1.2% respectively. There was no reduction in jobs attached to producers last year. “In fact the number of employees increased by 1.5%. This number, I can quite honestly say, surprises me very much,” Baumgartner said. Baumgartner said he expected “moderate growth” in 2004.