German rubber sector demands ‘reform action’ now

Frankfurt, Germany – Germany’s rubber manufacturers have urged the federal government to deliver concrete measures to reverse a continuing decline across the industrial sector.

At its autumn meeting, held 13 Nov, German rubber industry association the WDK said companies needed immediate relief and implementation of the reform agenda announced by chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“The ‘autumn of reforms’ must finally pick up speed,” said WDK president Michael Klein. “We then need a ‘winter of implementation’ that brings real improvements for competitiveness.”

The association pointed to two urgent priorities: cutting bureaucracy; and securing affordable energy.

Addressing the audience of around 200 delegates, Klein said “excessive bureaucracy [is] no longer manageable, especially for medium-sized manufacturers.”

Also speaking at the event, Hesse state economy minister Kaweh Mansoori underlined the sector’s importance to the state’s industrial structure in terms of innovation, technical capability and skills.

The industry, said the minister, “stands for industrial tradition, innovative spirit and regional responsibility.”

Mansoori concurred that many companies were under pressure and need stable energy-supply to stay competitive: adding that the state aimed to safeguard a strong industrial base.

A WDK survey showed the sector remained in decline with revenue down 2% year-on-year in the first nine months of the year, reflecting ‘continuing’ decrease in rubber-product manufacturing.

While firms expect slight improvement next year, WDK insisted that better national policy support was essential for growth and for recovery from the industry’s ‘current weak competitive position.’