ENGLISH
Demand for German plastics and rubber machinery picked up in the final quarter of 2009, according to the latest data from sector association VDMA, with order intake up by a nominal 35%.
According to the association’s latest published data, the sector recorded its first demand growth since 2008 in October of last year. That trend continued over the two months to the end of the year.
“The stimulus came from countries outside Europe,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of the VDMA plastics and rubber machinery association. “Orders from customers in Germany and the Euro area lag behind the previous year’s figures.”
Reifenhäuser also takes encouragement from the latest trend survey of the association’s member firms, which shows that demand for plastics and rubber machinery picked up in all sales areas in the second half of 2009. The two previous surveys had shown a marked decline in new orders.
“Not only are the expectations now positive but the assessment of the current situation has also improved significantly,” said Reifenhäuser. “On this basis there is good reason to believe that the industry’s volume of incoming orders and sales will end this year on a markedly positive note.”
Reifenhäuser said the plastics and rubber machinery sector had been one of the first of the major German manufacturing industries to feel the impact of the global recession, with orders declining since the autumn of 2008.
The increase in order intake in the final quarter of 2009 helped cushion the ongoing effect of the recession in the full year figures, according to the VDMA. Even so, order intake for the full year was down by 28% on 2008.
The association said demand from customers in Germany was down by 35% and for the rest of the Euro-zone countries was down by 38%. Orders from countries outside of the Euro-zone where down by 24%.
Last month, the VDMA published 2009 full year sales figures for the plastics and rubber machinery sector. These showed a 30% decline on 2008, down from €5.6bn to €3.9bn.
Meanwhile, the VDMA’s counterpart in Italy – Assocomplast – also reported last month that sales of Italian plastics and rubber machinery, equipment and moulds declined during 2009. Its data showed a fall of 24% to €3,200m.
In common with VDMA, Assocomoplast also expressed some confidence for the future. It published a survey of its membership which showed 81% of respondents expected to see growth during the first six months of 2010 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Plastics machinery makers from around the world will be hoping that the K show, which takes place later this year in Dusseldorf in Germany (27 October to 3 November), will further encourage orders.
K show organiser Messe Dusseldorf, which opened its online ticket sales office this month, said it expects to attract around 3,000 exhibitors to the 19 halls of the 2010 event.
From:http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com
From the Internet, If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
