"For the food processing machinery and packaging machinery is
cautious optimism: The worst appears to be," said Richard Clemens,
managing director of the VDMA Association of Food Processing and
Packaging Machinery, at the trade fair Drinktec 2009 in Munich.
In the otherwise relatively crisis-proof food processing and packaging
machinery industry show up after a violent burglary first upward
trends. Image: Krones
Last year, the German production of food machinery and packaging
machinery grew by VDMA figures by 5% to 11.1 billion euros. The
industry, with around 600 companies and 60 500 employees, thus laying
the production side in the tenth year in a row. One in three food
processing and packaging machinery which is exported worldwide comes
from a German production. In many sub-fields - like in the beverage
industry - the market share is even higher: 60% of exported brewing
machines are for example from Germany, with beverage packaging
machines, the professional association of food processing and
packaging machinery to the percentage estimate at least 50%.
2008, brought food and packaging machinery manufacturers and exports record
In 2008 the export deliveries have risen by a further 6% to 8.1
billion €. "This record is probably the last time being in 2009,
certainly not achieved," says Clemens. "For the wake of the
international financial and economic crisis, we could not escape.
Demand from abroad has been noticeably reticent in mid-2008. From the
very sharp decline in orders in October we were still pretty
surprised. We are such a strong downward movement is not simply used
to. Our industry is always regarded as less cyclical and could not
decouple in the past by the general mechanical engineering market. "
VDMA reports sharp drop in sales in the first half of 2009
In the first half-year order for food machinery and packaging
machinery shrank dramatically, and although the 37% in real terms last
year. Industry sales declined by 22%. When domestic order intake came
in contrast to the overall engineering not to extreme downturns. He
fell in this period by 7% below the previous year. In contrast, the
orders broke out abroad with a decrease of 42% in real terms in the
first half of 2009 drastically.
Exports declined in the reporting period by 22%, with almost all
important foreign markets simultaneously wegsackten. Especially
dramatic was the decline in deliveries of important regions in the
"Other Europe" and North America. "Cause of the sharp decline in
foreign demand was known to the lack of funding by the banks. Even the
realization of long-planned projects failed in the short term at the
restrictive lending, "said Clemens.
Since June, slight growth rates in order
Following statements by Clemens seems to subside the uncertainty of
investors currently in its infancy. "In June, already showed signs of
slight recovery in demand, particularly from abroad," said Clemens.
The monthly order intake statistics showed slight growth rates for the
first time again: The orders rose by 9% in June compared to the
previous month of May, in July the figure was 15% higher than the
previous month of June. "It strengthens the impression that was
already reached the low point in May and the industry - earlier than
the overall engineering - back to" normal "return path", said Managing
Director of VDMA.
Under these conditions, we look with optimism on the upcoming Drinktec
said Clemens. "We are convinced that the manufacturers of machines and
equipment for the beverage industry can confidently look to the
future, because the global beverage markets are highly dynamic."
Sales of beverages will continue to grow worldwide
The British market research institute € Monitor expects that the
global sales volume of soft drinks and beer alone over the next five
years annually by five percent per annum respectively by four will
increase. This for demographic reasons alone: by 2050 are 9.6
billion people, or 30% more than today, live in the world.
