The German plastics packaging sector has rung in the New Year with much more optimism than in 2013, the Q1 economic survey conducted by German packaging producers' association Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK, Bad Homburg; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) has found. A total of 41% of poll respondents expect turnover to rise this year – almost double the figure of Q1 2013 (see Plasteurope.com of 14.01.2013). The optimistic mood extends to exports as well, the association said.

Despite the positive resonance within the industry, IK still cautions that producers have to contend with unusually high raw material prices, adding further hikes are already in the making. Coupled with record-level energy costs, the future trend in packaging prices clearly points up, the association added.

With the Renewable Energy Law (EEG) in effect since 1 January, German packaging producers now have to pay 6.24 cents per kilowatt hour, an increase of almost 20% over the 2012 price level. Not surprisingly, IK’s survey found that 99% of companies polled identified energy efficiency as important, with 63% saying they already work with an energy management system and 83% of the remaining firms saying they plan to introduce one in the near future.

This energy-conscious approach on behalf of German plastics packagers, however, does not preclude action on behalf of the government to come up with a more market-orientated energy concept guaranteeing affordable energy supply, IK said.