German packaging output falls 2.4% to 16.7 million tonnes in 2025
Germany’s packaging production declined by 2.4% to 16.7 million tonnes in 2025, while production value fell by 1.7% to about €36.4 billion. Plastic was the only material to record volume growth, as aluminium, steel, paper-based and glass packaging contracted.
Production falls for a second year
Germany’s packaging market contracted again in 2025, with production falling by 2.4% from the previous year to 16.7 million tonnes, according to a market review by the German Packaging Manufacturers’ Committee, or GADV, reported by Packaging Journal. Output had stood at 17.1 million tonnes in 2024. The value of production declined by 1.7% to approximately €36.4 billion, compared with €37.1 billion a year earlier.
The figures point to weaker demand across most of the country’s packaging supply chain. Paper, board and cardboard packaging remained the largest category by volume, accounting for 47.1% of total production. Plastic packaging generated the largest share of production value at 44.9%, reflecting its higher value relative to the tonnage produced.
Plastic volumes edge higher as other materials retreat
Plastic was the only packaging material to record volume growth in 2025, with production rising by 0.2%. The industry manufactured about 3.857 million tonnes of plastic packaging worth €16.368 billion. Despite the slight increase in physical output, its production value fell by 1.0%, indicating pressure on prices, the product mix or both.
Paper, board and cardboard producers manufactured 7.863 million tonnes, valued at €11.813 billion. Their output declined by 3.4%, while production value decreased by a more limited 0.8%. As this segment represents almost half of German packaging tonnage, its contraction was a major contributor to the overall market decline and signals weaker order volumes for suppliers serving high-volume consumer and industrial applications.
Glass packaging production fell by 2.2% to 3.714 million tonnes. Its value dropped more sharply, by 5.7%, to €2.566 billion—the steepest value decline among the materials covered by the review. The gap between volume and value movements suggests that glass manufacturers faced particularly weak revenue conditions during the year.
Aluminium packaging recorded the largest volume contraction, falling by 6.5% to 317,000 tonnes. Production was valued at €2.150 billion, down 2.3%. Steel packaging output declined by 3.4% to 959,000 tonnes, with its value falling by 4.1% to €3.546 billion. These results imply lower demand for metal packaging inputs and tighter competition for orders among converters and material suppliers.
Regulation adds uncertainty for manufacturers
The GADV said packaging manufacturers continued to operate in a difficult market environment while new regulatory requirements created additional need for clarification. The German market is currently being shaped by the implementation of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, known as the PPWR, and the entry into force of Germany’s legislation implementing packaging law.
According to the industry associations represented by the GADV, companies across packaging materials remain highly uncertain about how the new rules will be interpreted and applied. That uncertainty affects producers making investment, product-design and capacity decisions at a time when market volumes are already declining. The GADV brings together associations representing manufacturers of paper, board, cardboard, plastic, glass, steel and aluminium packaging. Its supporting associations have about 900 member companies and, according to the committee, represent more than 80% of the production value of Germany’s packaging industry.
