According to the IK, the current economic survey shows a mixed picture with cautious optimism for 2025 despite the difficult economic situation.
 

Although 70 per cent of the 92 member companies of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (Industrial Association of Plastic Packaging) surveyed rated the current situation as poor, the survey indicates that the first positive signs for the new year can be seen. According to the survey, exports, which are traditionally regarded as an early indicator of economic developments, are developing encouragingly. While in the first quarter of 2024, 27 per cent of companies still expected the export situation to worsen, the proportion of pessimistic assessments is now 20 per cent, which is the lowest figure in over a year. With an export rate of 47 per cent in the first three quarters of 2024, the industry is one of the ten strongest exporting sectors in the German manufacturing industry, according to the IK. Further stabilisation is emerging here, and the proportion of companies expecting stable export business is currently 70 per cent, according to the survey. Positive signals are also emerging for sales expectations and the labour market: the proportion of companies that are optimistic about the future in terms of expected sales has almost doubled from 11 per cent at the beginning of 2024 to 20 per cent in January 2025. According to the survey, 11 per cent of companies are currently planning to hire new staff, almost triple the figure from the beginning of 2024. At the same time, the proportion of companies expecting to cut jobs has fallen.
 
‘The current figures show that sweeping crisis scenarios do not do justice to the complex economic reality,’ explains Laura Müller, IK's economic advisor. While the overall economic situation remains challenging, the IK economic survey shows that the industry is starting to show stabilising and positive trends.
 
Sources:

• Press release IK (16.1.2025)
• Photo: © IK