The German Association of the Glass Industry is looking at developments in the glass industry in 2023, with a slight decline in sales of 3.1 per cent compared to the previous year. The association does not foresee a rapid improvement for the industry.
Total sales in the glass industry in Germany fell in 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year by 3.1 per cent to around EUR 12.28 billion (2022: EUR 12.67 billion). Domestic and foreign sales declined in equal measure, falling by 3.7 and 2.2 per cent respectively.
Turnover trends in the glass sectors varied: total turnover for flat glass manufacturers fell by 10.4 per cent in 2023 to EUR 1.10 billion (2022: EUR 1.23 billion). Flat glass finishers closed the year with a drop of 4.2 per cent. Their total earnings amounted to EUR 4.64 billion (2022: EUR 4.85 billion).
Manufacturers of glass fibres recorded the largest decline in turnover, with a drop of 16.7%, falling from EUR 1.37 billion in 2022 to EUR 1.14 billion. In contrast, the decline in turnover in the speciality glass industry was comparatively moderate. It fell by just 0.7 per cent to EUR 1.71 billion (2022: EUR 1.73 billion). The result of the hollow glass industry is constant compared to the previous year. Both container glass and hollow glass are allocated to this sector. Sales increased by 0.1 per cent to EUR 3.48 billion (2022: EUR 3.47 billion).
„The glass industry has been in an all-time low since May 2023, which has had an impact on the overall result. The general economic situation remains difficult and we still see no signs of a rapid improvement for the glass industry. However, the ifo business climate index stabilised at a low level in May. The glass industry has obviously bottomed out. We expect a recovery in the course of 2025.“
Dr Christian Quenett, BV-Glas President
Source: BV Glass
