The six-month figures for 2018 indicate that the glass industry is still in a steady growth phase. Although foreign sales are still the main growth driver, domestic sales have also risen slightly.
The German glass industry’s total revenue rose by 4.4 percent to around EUR 5.06bn (2017: EUR 4.84bn). Although growth in domestic revenue remained moderate at 0.4 percent, strong growth in foreign revenue of 9.8 percent was recorded.
Segment results
Developments in the glass industry segments diverged in the period January to June 2018. Flat glass manufacturers had a very strong H1 with 6.2 percent growth in revenue up to EUR 529m (2017: EUR 498m). In contrast, the flat glass finishing segment experienced a slightly negative development with total revenue of EUR 1.86bn (2017: EUR 1.88bn), which represents a 1.1 percent decline. Glass fibre manufacturers also closed out the first six months of 2018 with a decline in revenue of 3.0 percent to EUR 489m (2017: EUR 504m). The special glass industry, on the other hand, experienced strong growth, posting total revenue of EUR 813m, which is 7.6 percent higher than the H1 2017 result (2017:EUR 755m).
Business is booming in the hollow glass segment
The hollow glass industry comprises the segments of container glass and tableware glass. In H1 2018 this sector experienced a market boom and revenue growth of 12.6 percent to EUR 1.36bn (2017: EUR 1.21bn).
BV Glas President Dr Frank Heinricht commented: “The six month figures for the glass industry indicate sustained demand for glass; a material that many applications in our everyday lives would be impossible to conceive without. The glasstec fair will also clearly demonstrate that glass is on trend! We’re optimistic that the positive developments in H1 will continue over the remaining months of the year!”
BV Glas is a glasstec conceptual sponsor organisation with its own stand no. E22 in hall 10. On 23 October BV Glas is hosting the afternoon session at the glasstec conference entitled “Environmental and Climate Policy in Germany & Europe – Challenges, Opportunities and Risks for the Glass Industry”.