TecPart presented the ‘Market Report 2024’ for the plastics processing industry in Berlin on 29 February.
 

In 2024, the industry saw a drastic decline in sales of 4.3 per cent, or over three billion euros. This means that the poor figures of the previous year will continue, according to the ‘Market Report of the Plastics Processing Industry 2024’ (in German), which TecPart - Verband Technische Kunststoff-Produkte e.V. presented at its annual press conference in Berlin on 19 February. At the same time, the association used the presentation to make strategic recommendations to the future German government, which are primarily aimed at strengthening competitiveness. Commenting on the report in a press release issued by the association, TecPart chairman Felix Loose said that the situation is alarming in view of the past few years, which have seen drastic cost increases, relocation and capacity reductions among plastics processors and internationally sourcing customers. As TecPart managing director Michael Weigelt explains, the decline in sales is particularly evident in the segments with the highest sales, such as technical parts, which are down 5.6 per cent on the previous year, and in the construction industry, which is down 6.4 per cent. The quantity of plastics processed also fell from 12.8 million tonnes to 12.3 million tonnes, while the proportion of recyclates in plastic parts rose slightly from 18.7 to 19.5. In view of the pressure on the core markets for technical parts – the automotive industry, the E+E sector and mechanical engineering – the future expectations of the plastics processing industry are said to be rather negative. For example, 84 per cent of the companies surveyed by the association would plan to merely maintain or reduce their level of investment. The industry needed a rapid and forward-looking change of course. Its opportunity was based on the circular economy and its enormous potential for innovation. To take advantage of this, strong framework conditions must be created for a future-proof location in this country. In addition, the electricity tax must be reduced, the administration made more efficient and the labour force strengthened. In addition, according to the association's recommendation the compass circular economy for plastics should be reoriented in order to promote, among other things, the use of recycled materials and recycling technologies, as well as to create standards for recyclable products. All recommendations can be found in the association's position paper (in German).
 
Sources:

• Press release TecPart (19.2.2025)
• Photo: © TecPart