For more than three years, there is only one direction for the plastics industry in German-speaking countries - to move forward and to continue this trend in the second half of 2017. Compared with the first half, most of the plastics industry companies have further improved their performance, and the work motors and investment are at full speed Operation, at the moment can not see the end of prosperity.
The result is a survey of 527 exhibitors based on the sector analyst 'KI (Plastics Information)' about the plastics boom of the second half of 2017. Since 2001, KI has been reporting to the plastics industry executives every six months Investigate business development and expectations, investment and employment.
Compared with the first half of 2017, 53% of the companies surveyed had an increase in performance, with only 40% expecting their performance to be stronger by mid-year, and only 9% of the companies' business declined in the second half of the year.
Expectations and Development 'Yellow is the KI Development Index and black is the KI Expectations Index
During the survey, 44% of all firms surveyed hired additional workers and only 8% laid off their jobs. The employment of motor in plastic industry has been running at full speed since 2012. The shortage of skilled workers is in 2017 In the ointment More than 50% of companies face challenges, but at the same time confidence in further growth remains unchanged: 46% of companies expect to increase their investment in 2018 and 51% in capacity expansion since the survey began in 2001 - both The numbers have hit a new high.
The biggest challenge in 2018 is still material costs, followed by selling prices, talent recruitment and supply capabilities of upstream suppliers, formerly associated personnel and energy costs overall have only played a secondary role in the sales and the euro exchange rate The effect is completely relaxed.
Since 2014, the plastics industry in the German-speaking countries has been on the rise and the industry has repeatedly set historical records. At present, there seems to be no end to see.