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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 2023/2024 (in € million)

Imports Exports
2023 2024  2023/ 2024
Change in %
2023 2024 2023 / 2024
Change in %
Films
LDPE 619 637 2,8 892 873 -2,2
HDPE 144 141 -1,7 422 433 2,8
Ethylene copolymers / others 289 276 -4,5 734 711 -3,1
PP 727 766 5,3 1.054 1.114 5,7
PS 150 139 -7,3 341 316 -7,4
PET + Polyester 373 360 -3,5 650 642 -1,2
Regen. Cellulose3 13 12 -3,5 3 4 10,1
Cellulose acetate 5 4 -21,4 11 12 6,4
PA 41 38 -8,7 96 93 -3,3
PC 111 96 -14,1 127 126 -1,2
Packaging
Cups, containers, buckets, cases 750 712 -5,0 1.275 1.231 -3,5
Bags, pouches, sacks etc. made from:
   PE 753 818 8,7 913 859 -5,9
   PVC 10 10 0,5 12 9 -21,0
   other plastics 263 257 -2,2 244 224 -8,2
Bottles
   < 2l 581 556 -4,4 584 613 5,0
  > 2l 112 112 0,3 220 217 -1,2
Closures 677 689 1,7 1.134 1.149 1,2
Other transport packages 671 634 -5,6 715 707 -1,1
Total 6.288 6.255 0,5 9.428 9.334 1,0

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 2023/2024:

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.