The German glass industry’s total revenue rose by 2.9 percent to around EUR 7.35 bn (2016: EUR 7.14 bn). Domestic revenue increased slightly by 0.4 percent, while growth in foreign revenue remained strong at 6.6 percent. The number of employees working in the glass industry declined slightly by 0.9 percent to around 53,300.

Segment results

The results across all segments for the period January to September 2017 have improved compared to the same period last year. The flat glass manufacturing segment’s revenue increased again to EUR 755 m (2016: EUR 744 m), which corresponds to 1.4 percent growth. The flat glass finishing segment also closed the third quarter on a positive note with growth of 4.1 percent and total revenue of EUR 2.89 bn (2016: EUR 2.78 bn). Glass fibre manufacturers reported a positive result of 0.4 percent growth in revenue to EUR 741 m (2016: EUR 739 m), as did the special glass segment,  with an overall result of EUR 1.13 bn or 5.6 percent year-over-year growth (2016: EUR 1.07 bn).

The trend in the hollow glass industry remains positive

The hollow glass industry comprises the segments of container glass and tableware glass. In the first nine months of 2017 it generated revenue of EUR 1.83 bn (2016: EUR 1.80 bn), which represents 1.6 percent growth year-over-year.

BV-Glas President Dr Frank Heinricht commented: “2017 has been a commercially successful year for all segments of the glass industry. This is a very satisfactory development. We are also confident that the trend will continue and culminate in a positive year-end result.”