German machinery exports pick up

Last year saw a robust recovery in foreign deliveries by German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers, according to a news release by the VDMA, the German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association.

But in spite of annual growth of 25.6%, exports fell far short of the record achieved in 2008.

“There is a chance that the gap may of course close again this year,” said Ulrich Reifenhaeuser, VDMA chairman, in the statement.

Reifenhaeuser added that “German export deliveries had risen by 46.5% by the middle of 2011.”

Countries with the biggest markets all show significantly above average growth: China showed a 67% increase, followed by the United States with 60%, India with 95%, Russia with 80.1%, Mexico with 96.8% and Turkey with 87.3%.

The industry’s sales rose 35% in the first half of this year.

“Based on the current forecast sales will rise by 18% over the year as a whole,” said Thorsten Kühmann, managing director of the association. He feels growth may top the 20% mark, so that the industry may reach an all-time high again or even exceed it.

The forecast is for sales growth to continue in 2012, with new orders from customers in Germany rising by 21% and those from abroad by 24%, VDMA predicts.