Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip market in Germany

Earlier Report Observations

The German plastic films market entered the period with structural expansions and a growing sustainability agenda. In 2018, LAMILUX's acquisition of Roda brought a new production facility for fiber-reinforced plastics, while industry associations set ambitious circular economy targets for 2025. By 2020, the sector's focus had shifted toward innovating with sustainable materials and improving recycling processes, reinforcing its industrial base.

Market volume showed stability in the early 2020s, remaining around 4.9 billion $ in both 2021 and 2022. This steady demand occurred despite rising cost pressures and a gradual industry transformation toward more recyclable products.

A sharp downturn began in 2023 when Germany's plastics production contracted by 15.3%, leading to a significantly smaller market as order books shrank. The decline continued into 2024, with market volume falling to 4.1 billion $, driven by the implementation of stringent new rules like the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) and the Single-Use Plastic Fund Law, which increased producer costs. Simultaneously, product innovations from ExxonMobil and the Fraunhofer Institute, developing recyclable and bio-based films, signaled the market's accelerated pivot toward sustainable alternatives.

Production plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip in Germany

According to Faostat, there is no production of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip in Germany.

Exports plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip from Germany

Exports in kind, K t

After rising for two consecutive years, Germany's exports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip declined in 2020. The country exported 681.7 K t that year, marking a 5.8% decrease compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 4.6%, with an average annual decline of 1.6%. The peak was recorded in 2019 at 724.1 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 1.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Germany in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany's exports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip were spread across numerous markets. The top three destinations—France (10.1% of exports in kind), Poland (10.1%), and the Netherlands (9.5%)—collectively accounted for only 29.7% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Germany in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Germany's exports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in monetary terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 3 489 M $ US, down 4.5% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 4.9%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 1.7%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 3 878 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 5.7%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the steepest decline of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Germany in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, no single market dominated Germany's exports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in value terms. The leading partners—France (9.3% of exports in value), Poland (8.0%), and the United States (7.7%)—together made up just 25.0% of total export value, with many smaller countries holding modest individual shares.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Germany in value, 2017-2020

Imports plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip to Germany

Imports in kind, K t

Germany's imports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in volume terms fell for the third consecutive year. In 2020, import volume reached 425.4 K t, a 1.4% drop from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 7.8%, with an average annual decline of 2.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Germany in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany's imports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in kind were distributed across a broad range of partner countries. The top three sources—Italy (13.7% of imports in kind), Switzerland (13.1%), and the Netherlands (12.4%)—combined for only 39.2% of total import volumes.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Germany in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Germany's imports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in monetary terms declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 841 M $ US, down 4.8% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 6.5%, with an average annual decrease of 2.2%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 2 052 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 4.3%. In 2019, imports experienced the sharpest decline of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Germany in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany's imports of plastic plates, sheets, film, foil, and strip in value terms were widely dispersed among partner countries. The top three suppliers—Switzerland (13.2% of imports in value), the Netherlands (12.4%), and Italy (12.0%)—together represented only 37.7% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Germany in value, 2017-2020