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Business outlook

We consult our member companies every quarter about their assessment of the economic situation. The result is the IK Economic Trend. It is regarded as the barometer of the plastics packaging industry. The individual working groups define benchmarks whose results are only made available to participating member businesses.

We also publish production statistics and international trade statistics. Please contact us in case you are interested in any material.

Source: IK; Balance: share of positive reports
minus share of negative reports

International trade

International trade in films1 and plastics packaging2 2022/2023 (in € million)

Imports Exports
2022 2023 Change in % 2022/2023 2022 2023 Change in % 2022/2023
Films
LDPE 772 605 -21,6 1.058 885 -16,4
HDPE 160 142 -11,3 527 420 -20,3
Ethylene copolymers / others 330 282 -14,5 838 724 -13,6
PP 913 717 -21,5 1.234 1.053 -14,7
PS 172 149 -13,4 385 341 -11,4
PET + polyester 475 369 -22,3 822 654 -20,4
Regen. cellulose3 15 13 -13,3 3 3 0,0
Cellulose acetate 6 5 -16,7 14 11 -21,4
PA 51 40 -21,6 118 96 -18,6
PC 123 106 -13,8 128 125 -2,3
Packaging
Cups, containers, buckets, cases 769 720 -5,1 1.276 1.244 -2,5
Bags, pouches, sacks etc. made from:
   PE 903 743 -17,7 1.049 892 -15,0
   PVC 12 10 -16,7 13 12 -7,7
   Other plastics 264 251 -4,9 267 237 -11,2
Bottles
   < 2l 628 555 -11,6 557 569 2,2
   > 2l 117 109 -6,8 257 221 -14,0
Closures 685 660 -3,6 1.136 1.115 -1,8
Other transport packages 710 655 -7,7 734 697 -5,0
Total 7.105 6.141 -13,6 10.416 9.299 -10,7

1) Films, boards, sheets 2) Excerpts
3) Preliminary values. The Federal Statistical Office assumes an incorrectly reported commodity code.
Source: Destatis; Last updated: February 2025

Production

Production for plastics packaging and packaging films in Germany 2024:

Packaging categories Volume in 1,000 t Change Sales in € Change
2023 2024 in % 2023 2024 in %
Packaging films 1.412 1.443 2,2 5.620 5.431 -3,4
Pouches, carrier bags, sacks 395 375 -5,2 1.464 1.321 -9,8
Cups, containers, cases, crates, pallets 706 712 0,9 3.261 3.253 -0,3
Bottles 576 586 1,7 2.427 2.414 -0,5%
   PET bottles 405 411 1,3 No breakdown into PET
and other plastics
   Bottles, other plastics 171 175 2,5
Closures 293 304 3,7 1.630  1.717  5,3
Barrels, canisters, buckets 230 239 3,8 1.245 1.292 3,8
Other 198 192 -3,1 1.147 1.113 -3,0
Total 3.810 3.850 1,1 16.794 16.539 -1,5

Source: GVM, IK, Destatis; Last updated: February 2024

Recycling statistics

Our association intends to reach the ambitious targets of one million tonnes of recyclates (or renewable raw materials) in use and a proportion of 90 per cent of recyclable and reusable plastic household packages by 2025.

We will only achieve these targets if recycling plastic is available in the required quantities and qualities and there is the corresponding demand from our customers. We ensure the quality of progress by means of regular monitoring.