German container glass sales based on tonnage increased by a total of 0.4% between 2012 and 2013, according to the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry (BV Glas).

While domestic sales remained at exactly the previous year’s level, foreign sales increased by 1.5%.

The highest growth in sales of the year were recorded in April (up 11.6%). This growth trend was partly weather-related, due to a mini heatwave in April 2013.

The warm summer months of July and September also generated high sales (up 7.3 and 6.8% respectively), and the late summer was reflected in the figures.

However, sales also increased by a substantial 6.8% in January.

“The German container glass industry achieved a positive result in 2013 and our assessment of its situation is therefore positive,“ summarised Dr. Johann Overath, Director General of the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry.
However, like all other glass sectors, the container glass industry faces future uncertainty relating to the reform of the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG). “If the EEG’s special compensation provision for companies in the glass industry is amended to their detriment or abolished altogether, these companies would face serious difficulties because they wouldn’t be able to compensate the additional costs.

There would also be severe economic impacts on regions where glassworks have been the main employer for generations."


Growth in beverage bottle sales in almost all segments

Despite the late and relatively cool summer, the beverage bottle segment closed out the year with a stable result and a slight decline in sales of 0.2% As in the previous year, the top performers were mineral water/carbonated soft drinks, with growth in sales of 5.5%, and wine with growth of 2.8%.

In the domestic market of Germany, these two segments recorded strong growth in sales of 12.1% (mineral water/carbonated soft drinks) and 3.3% (wine).

This positive development is due to the fact that mineral water and carbonated soft drinks are very popular with consumers.

The Association of German Mineral Water Producers (Verband Deutscher Mineralbrunnen) reported after initial extrapolations that the per capita consumption of mineral and medicinal water increased by 1.6 litres to 140.0 litres in 2013.

Demand for domestic wines also rose. The German Wine Institute (Deutsches Weininstitut) reported that demand is still high in Germany for domestically produced wines.

Despite a slightly negative trend in the overall wine market, sales of German-grown wines increased year-over-year by 2.5%. German wines therefore account for 46% of total wine sales revenue in Germany.

More information www.glasaktuell.de/