{"id":68037,"date":"2022-09-01T11:23:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T09:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=68037"},"modified":"2022-09-01T10:50:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T08:50:02","slug":"ik-plastic-packaging-manufacturer-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/ik-kunststoffverpackungshersteller-in-not\/","title":{"rendered":"IK survey: One in five manufacturers of plastic packaging in existential distress"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A recent survey conducted by the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V. among its 300 member companies shows that the high energy costs have become a threat to the existence of one in five companies in the industry. The association is calling on politicians to take action in order to prevent production shutdowns and job losses.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The mostly medium-sized manufacturers of plastic packaging and films in Germany, like many other energy-intensive industries, have been shocked by the dramatic rise in electricity and gas prices. Some companies have so far been able to avoid a cost increase due to current contracts, On average for the sector, however, electricity costs have doubled since the beginning of the year.<\/strong> However, many companies have to pay 300, 500 and up to 750 per cent higher electricity prices than at the beginning of the year. The current situation is similar for natural gas, where prices are up to 625 per cent higher than at the beginning of the year and here too the price has doubled on average.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The situation looks even more dramatic for next year<\/strong>: In 2023, individual electricity prices are expected to rise by up to 1,200 per cent, with an average increase of around 240 per cent. Most companies also expect natural gas prices to at least double, with the highest estimates also predicting an individual increase of over 1,000 per cent. On average, natural gas prices are currently expected to rise by 250 per cent in 2023.<\/p>

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\u201eMany energy-intensive companies do not yet have an electricity contract for 2023. In view of a tenfold increase in prices on the electricity exchange, it is currently not economically feasible to conclude such a contract, and the companies will inevitably run into the overheated spot market.\u201c<\/p>

Dr Martin Engelmann,<\/strong> Managing Director of the IK<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>

In addition to the high costs, there is also the planned gas levy, which will further burden companies. \u201eSo far, most of our member companies have managed to minimise the to pass on at least part of the drastic rise in energy costs to customers<\/strong>. This is one of the reasons why most companies are not yet affected in their production and delivery capacity. However, this will change in the coming months if energy prices remain at this level or continue to rise,\u201c warns Engelmann.<\/p>

Half of the companies are already expecting a negative impact on production in Germany in 2023.<\/strong> The reduction in Russian gas supplies and the threat of a gas shortage in the coming months will also affect the plastic packaging industry: according to the survey, a natural gas supply freeze would have a negative impact on production for two out of three companies, and even a significant impact for almost a third.<\/p>