In 2025, manufacturers of food and packaging machinery increased their production at German sites to almost 17 billion euros. This was reported by the VDMA's Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association. Packaging machinery in particular saw significant growth, but at the same time, uncertainty is growing due to geopolitical crises, US tariffs, and increasing competitive pressure from China.
The industry's production rose by 4.9 percent year-on-year in 2025, according to the VDMA. The packaging machinery segment, including beverage filling machines, performed particularly strongly, with growth of 8 percent to 9 billion euros. Christian Traumann, Chairman of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, ..., said: „Manufacturers of packaging machines in particular can look back on a strong 2025 and achieve an increase of 8 percent to 9 billion euros.“
The export business remains broadly positioned.
In 2025, exports for the entire sector increased by 2 percent to around 11 billion euros. Approximately 70 percent of exports were accounted for by packaging machinery. Europe remained the most important sales region, followed by North America. The USA was once again the most important individual market for German manufacturers, with exports worth just under 1.8 billion euros. Despite US customs policy, deliveries there only decreased by 1 percent.
Asia also remained significant, though China continued to lose ground. Exports to the People's Republic fell by 8 percent in 2025 to 409 million euros. Traumann explained: „China is and remains an important market. However, the growth rates of the Chinese economy have become significantly weaker.“ Furthermore, the „Made in China“ strategy is increasing the pressure for local production from European machine manufacturers.
Positive growth impulses, on the other hand, came from Mexico, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Japan, and Brazil, among others. According to VDMA, companies benefit from their international positioning with an average export share of 80 percent.
Packaging industry remains a global growth driver
The VDMA points to long-term positive prospects for the packaging and processing industry. This is against the backdrop of rising global consumption of packaged foods. According to forecasts by Euromonitor International, sales of packaged foods worldwide are expected to rise from 872 million tonnes in 2024 to 968 million tonnes by 2029. Particularly high growth rates are expected in Asia as well as in the Middle East and Africa.
At the same time, the association is noting increasing burdens on the competitiveness of European mechanical engineers. High energy and labour costs, bureaucracy, and geopolitical uncertainties are cited. Added to this is growing competition from China. Traumann therefore called for better framework conditions and open markets: „We have very innovative mechanical engineering in Germany and Europe, whose continued success depends on better framework conditions and open markets.“
Source: VDMA
