BERLIN: The Made in Germany stamp of quality is much in demand in North America, with the VDMA reporting all time high exports of plastics and rubber machinery to the US.
This leap puts the US ahead of China as Germany’s most important export market after seven years of the Asian superpower holding the top spot.
“After bottoming out in 2009, deliveries of German plastics and rubber machinery to the US have recovered steadily, reaching a record €719 million (£617 million) in 2015: an almost threefold increase,” stated VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association Chairman Ulrich Reifenhäuser.
Strong growth in Mexico has also been recorded by the association, as German deliveries to this emerging market also rose sharply. In 2015 alone, exports of German plastics and rubber machinery were 50 per cent up on the previous year, taking Mexico to fourth place among the most important markets. The Mexican market’s strong rate of growth may also be explained by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which has dismantled trade barriers in the region.
“Owing to the high level of demand for plastics, plastic packaging in particular, German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers expect sales to the US and Mexico to remain strong,” stated Thorsten Kühmann, VDMA Managing Director. “Existing free trade agreements are of fundamental importance for this; any form of protectionism on the other hand will be damaging to the business activities of all concerned.”
