The German glass industry closed 2013 with a negligible decline in revenue (0.1%) compared with the same period in 2012, with total revenue remaining constant at around EUR 8.94 billion (2012: EUR 8.95 billion).
The German glass industry closed 2013 with a negligible decline in revenue (0.1%) compared with the same period in 2012. Total revenue therefore remained constant at around EUR 8.94 billion (2012: EUR 8.95 billion). Domestic sales declined by 0.7% (EUR 5.66 billion), whereas foreign sales rose by 0.9% to EUR 3.28 billion. The number of employees in the glass industry decreased moderately by 1.4% to currently approximately 53,000.
The flat glass manufacturing and finishing segments recovered in 2013 after the drastic slump in 2012. Flat glass manufacturers reported a 3.0% increase in revenue, though overall revenue in the flat glass finishing sector declined slightly by 1.5%. Total revenue in the flat glass manufacturing sector was EUR 1.02 billion, EUR 538 million of which was accounted for by domestic sales (down 9.0%) and EUR 478 million by foreign sales (up 21.1%). The flat glass finishing sector reported total annual revenue of EUR 3.44 billion, whereby domestic sales accounted for EUR 2.43 billion (down 2.4%) and foreign sales EUR 1.01 billion (up 0.9%).
Results in the consumer-related container glass segment remained constant, and it closed 2013 with revenue growth of 3.7% to EUR 1.91 billion. This is particularly due to the high level of foreign sales, which increased from 7.4% to EUR 678 million, a much more positive development than domestic sales, which only increased by 1.8% to EUR 1.24 billion.
The glass fibre segment’s result was also positive (up 4.1% to EUR 874 million). Domestic sales increased by 2.9% to EUR 552 million and foreign sales by 6.4% to EUR 322 million. A clear improvement in total revenue was evident in the special glass segment (growth of 5.6% to EUR 1.31 billion). Domestic sales declined by 1.2% to EUR 493 million, whereas foreign sales rose by 10.1% to EUR 813 million.
Dr. Hans-Joachim Konz, President of the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry (BV Glas) explained, “The overall results for 2013 make it evident that, for the most part, the glass industry has come through the trough and is developing positively again after several of its segments experienced a slump in sales in 2012. Whether this can be sustained depends to a great extent on political decisions in Berlin and Brussels.”
BV Glas is lobbying for the reduction of the electro-intensity threshold from 16 and 17% to 14% when the special compensation provision in the German Renewable Energies Act is amended. With regard to both German and European energy and climate policy, the German glass industry is calling for more long-term planning security. The same applies to emissions trading.
Although all glass industry segments are on the Carbon Leakage List in the European Commission’s current draft bill, the mandatory 5-yearly review is causing considerable concern in the entire industry. BV Glas believes it is necessary to extend the validity term of the Carbon Leakage List due to the glass industry’s 15-year investment cycles – the interval at which the glass furnaces have to be replaced.
The Federal Association of the German Glass Industry represents the economic interests of the German glass manufacturing sector. This sector includes the segments of flat glass, container glass, special glass, as well as glass processing and finishing. There are around 400 companies with approximately 53,000 employees in the German glass industry. In 2013, it generated total revenue of around EUR 8.94 billion.