German rubber industry calls on government to “switch to crisis mode”

Frankfurt, Germany – The German rubber industry association (WDK) has called on the federal government to “switch to crisis mode” amid intensifying economic pressures.

In a 20 March statement, WDK president Michael Klein warned that medium-sized manufacturing companies “have long been on red alert.”

“While many companies are fighting for their future, politics is not getting off the ground – neither in Germany nor in Europe," said Klein.

Klein voiced his support for the German chemical industry association VCI’s “Stop the snail’s pace!” campaign, which he said calls for faster reforms.

The industry association warned that the increasing closure of sites and the relocation of production abroad showed the extent of pressure on Germany as “an industrial location.”

“All competitive disadvantages that we can control at national level must now be consistently eliminated,” Klein said.

As concrete measures, Klein called for a lower national CO2 price or a suspension of the national emissions trading system, as well as rapid and tangible reductions in bureaucracy for businesses.

He also warned of additional strain linked to the economic impact of the Iran war, particularly through rising fuel and logistics costs.

“Rising fuel prices are driving up transport costs, and blocked global transport routes in container shipping are increasingly putting pressure on supply chains – including in the rubber industry,” Klein said.

“Fires are currently breaking out in many places at once. If countermeasures are not taken now, further damage to Germany as a production location is likely,” he concluded.