The German plastic packaging and film industry is more confident about economic stabilisation in the second quarter of 2025. This is according to the latest IK economic survey, in which 105 member companies took part.
Although the majority of the member companies of the Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK) still consider the general economic situation to be challenging, there are signs of a recovery in the Significant signs of improvement compared to the previous quarter from. In the second quarter of 2025 Only 57 per cent of companies consider the general economic situation to be poor - an improvement on the first quarter, when 70 per cent shared this view. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains high: only one per cent of companies rate the situation as good. As many as 42 per cent rate the situation as satisfactory. This trend is in line with the results of the ifo Business Climate Index for the manufacturing industry, which also improved slightly recently.
Stabilising factors: exports, raw materials and employment
While the assessment of the general economic situation is still cautious, other economic indicators are proving to be more robust. Thus Export expectations remain largely stable despite global trade uncertainties. Two thirds of companies (66%) expect export business to remain the same. Also the availability of raw materials is proving to be reliable: three quarters of companies (76%) do not expect any changes in the procurement of raw materials. There are also signs of continuity with regard to the Employment trend from: 68% are not planning any changes to their workforce.
In addition to the stable trend in exports, the supply of raw materials and employment the sales expectations surveyed for the first time The IC economic survey for the second quarter of 2025 paints a differentiated picture of industry sentiment. While the majority of companies (59%) expect sales to remain the same, the remaining assessments are almost evenly distributed: 21% of respondents expect their sales situation to improve, while 20% anticipate a decline. This differentiated forecast illustrates the different market positions and product specialisations within the industry.
Sales expectations are considered to be good, particularly in the industrial and commercial packaging (e.g. foils, drums, canisters) and in the area of food films and bottles rated.
Positive earnings trend
The earnings situation is rated as better than in previous quarters. The proportion of companies that rate their earnings situation as worse fell accordingly from 50 per cent in the first quarter to 42 per cent in the second quarter. At the same time, the proportion of companies with positive expectations rose from seven per cent to ten per cent. The majority of respondents (48%) expect the earnings situation to remain stable. This development indicates that, that the industry is slowly adapting to the challenging conditions.
„The results of our economic survey show a slight improvement in economic sentiment compared to the start of the year. However, we are still operating in a challenging economic environment that requires companies to be highly flexible when it comes to adapting. However, politicians must not rely on this outstanding characteristic of SMEs if the confidence over the course of the year is to prove to be more than just a snapshot.“
Laura Müller, Business Consultant at the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V.
Source: IK
