{"id":102648,"date":"2025-05-28T10:21:11","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T08:21:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=102648"},"modified":"2025-05-27T12:20:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T10:20:42","slug":"propak-reports-slight-decline-in-production-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/propak-berichtet-ueber-leichten-produktionsrueckgang-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Propak reports slight decline in production in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Austrian paper processing industry recorded a slight decline in production and significant challenges in exports in 2024. Despite high personnel costs and regulatory pressure, the industry expects to break even in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Austrian paper processing industry (Propak) closed 2024 with a production value of 2.73 billion euros - a decrease of 1.0 % compared to the previous year. Although the production volume increased slightly, according to Propak Chairman Georg Dieter Fischer, this is not real growth: \u201eWe are back at the level of 2017 - but with the costs of 2025.\u201c<\/p>\n

The decline in the export value by 5 % was particularly severe. With an export ratio of 80 %, the sector is heavily reliant on foreign markets - above all Germany, which accounts for over 30 % of the trade volume. The labour cost gap is massively hampering competitiveness.<\/p>

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Fischer warns: \u201eIf we don't rethink, Austria will continue to lose ground as a business location.\u201c The trade association chairman calls for a debate on wage restraint in order to secure jobs in the long term.<\/p>\n

Costs, bureaucracy, shortage of skilled labour: triple burden<\/h3>\n
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  • Labour costs: According to Propak Vice President Marko Bill Schuster, standardised products will soon no longer be competitive in Austria. He calls for a balance between fair pay and operational affordability.<\/li>\n
  • Bureaucracy: Propak Managing Director Martin Widermann particularly criticises the complexity of European regulations and their indirect impact on SMEs.<\/li>\n
  • Skilled labour: 50 % of companies describe recruitment as \u201edifficult\u201c. Positive: 6 % more apprentices in 2024, a success of targeted training and employer branding measures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Sustainability as a strength of the industry<\/h3>\n

    In the sustainability debate, Propak clearly sees itself as a solution, not a problem:<\/p>