WDK wants “permanent” raw materials dialogue with government

Frankfurt am Main, Germany – The German rubber manufacturing industry needs to see a “paradigm shift “in the federal government's raw materials policy, sector association the WDK said in a 19 Aug release

" The attitude that companies are primarily responsible for securing their supply of raw materials and intermediate products is no longer up-to-date in view of the changed geopolitical situation," said Boris Engelhardt, managing director of the Frankfurt-based industry body.

Urging the establishment of “permanent” raw materials dialogue, Engelhardt said the German rubber industry is dependent on the import of raw materials, especially natural rubber for which it is 100% reliant on overseas supply.

While the federal government's raw materials strategy has “focused on mineral raw materials, but ignored organic ones… [with] no central recording of the dependence of the entire German industry on raw materials and intermediate products.”

And, given the current rise in global trade protectionism, Engelhardt proposed the establishment of a permanent dialogue between the federal government and the economy that covers all raw material-dependent industries.

"Three things would be important: expanding the focus on non-mineral raw materials and intermediate products, recording demand and dependencies, and developing measures to ensure security of supply and diversify supply chains," he stated.

According to the MD, “such an anticipatory raw materials policy would protect Germany as an industrial location and ensure that supply problems are not only solved [after] they occur."

The WDK is the umbrella organization of German manufacturers of tires and technical elastomer products: representing over 200 companies with almost 70,000 employees and a total annual turnover of more than €10 billion.