Sales of container glass in Germany fell by 15.5% in 2023.
The general poor economic situation in the glass industry was reflected in sales, with around 3.89 million tonnes of container glass sold in Germany last year.
According to the latest figures from German association, the Glass Packaging Action Forum, sales of beverage bottles fell in all sub-segments.
Sales in the beverage bottles segment declined 16.9% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Beer and spirits segments were minus 20.2% and wine and sparkling wine minus 12.7%.
Non-alcoholic beverages (water, milk and juice) also recorded a decline in sales of 15.8%. The downward trend, already evident in the first half of 2023, continued.
The packaging glass for food and packaging glass for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics segment also closed 2023 with negative sales of minus 12.3%.
Dr. Johann Overath, General Manager of the Federal Association of the Glass Industry, said: “Unfortunately, the negative development of the container glass market continued in 2023, meaning that we will also end the year as a whole with a poor result.
“The reason is still a decline in demand and the reduction of inventories. The market recovery that we had hoped for in the second half of the year did not occur.”
Looking ahead to the beginning of 2024, the container glass industry is still confident.
According to the ifo business climate index for the hollow glass industry, companies rated both the business situation and business expectations more optimistically in March than in the previous month.
“We hope that there will be a noticeable recovery in the container glass market over the course of 2024 and that the great acceptance that glass packaging continues to enjoy among consumers will also be reflected in sales,” said Overath.
