German Folding Carton Industry Sees Good Overall Performance
Overall performance of the German folding carton industry in 2013 was good, with a production value of EUR 1.879 billion and a production volume of 850,530 metric tons, according to Germany-based Fachverband Faltschachtelindustrie e.V. (FFI). The changes over the previous year were only marginal at -0.6% in production value (2012 = EUR 1.890 billion) and -0.9% in production volume (2012 = 857,959 metric tons).
Sales generated per kg of folding cartons produced stabilized at EUR 2.21, the upper end of the multiyear average and slightly higher than in the previous year. Capacity utilization increased slightly too. "We are delighted that the industry as a whole in Germany is so resilient and that the development in the ratio of sales to volume is particularly encouraging," said Steffen Schnizer, spokesman for the FFI executive committee and director of CD CARTONDRUCK GmbH.
The number of folding carton companies has been declining for years and this process continued in 2013, FFI reports. Company mergers are the main reason for this development. The proportion of the industry accounted for by the corporate members of FFI has remained consistent, however. They continue to represent three quarters of the production value and two thirds of the production volume of all folding carton manufacturers. To be specific, the corporate members of the FFI generated a production value of EUR 1.426 billion in 2013 (+2.9% over 2012) and manufactured a production volume of 576,342 metric tons (+2.2% over 2012). This means that the market share held by the corporate members of the FFI increased to 75.9% of the value of the industry as a whole and to 67.8% of the volume.
"The large proportion of the industry accounted for by the FFI demonstrates how we as an association help our members to improve their competitive position. We see this as a commitment to go on publicizing the importance of folding cartons as a packaging and sales medium," Schnizer said.
According to statistics compiled by the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA), Germany still has the leading folding carton industry in Europe, with a market share of just under 25%. It is followed by Italy and Great Britain with about 14% each and France with about 12%. No other country reaches double figures, while Turkey has overtaken Spain and now holds fifth place in Europe.
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