BAD HOMBURG, GERMANY — Sales of plastic packaging and films in Germany stayed relatively stable in 2012, showing only a 0.4 percent decrease from 2011, according to trade association IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen.
The packaging group says that following a promising start to 2012, orders began to fall in the second half of the year, affecting both packaging and film producers.
"Faced with the Eurozone financial crisis and a meager domestic economic growth, the industry was not able to disconnect itself from the slump in the sales market," said the group.
During the year Germany's packaging manufacturers continued to face increases in raw material prices and higher energy prices because of the renewable energy (EEG) levy. At the same time, the industry had stronger competition from the rest of Europe, said the report.
However, the IK group says there are signs that the industry may return to growth this year, adding that its members are optimistic for the second quarter of 2013.