Asia now accounts for a greater percentage of Germany's exports of plastics and rubber machinery — 33.5 percent — than the European Union, according to the VDMA.
The plastics and machinery association said Asia's share in total exports increased from 29.1 percent to 36.5 percent in 2009, while the share of the 27 countries of the European Union dropped to 29.6 percent from 35 percent.
However, total exports fell 33.9 percent in 2009, described by VDMA as a “collapse,” and exports to Asia were down 17.2 percent.
“With growth of 19.6 percent, exports to central and south Asia were the only real bright spot on the entire export horizon,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of VDMA. “Deliveries to Southeast Asia were only slightly lower than 2008, recording a drop of 3.6 percent.”
Exports to east Asia fell 26.2 percent, while sales to the Middle East were down 21.4 percent.
VDMA, the German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association, is based in Frankfurt.
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