FACTSHEET GLASS INDUSTRY

Glass is used in everyday life. Its broad

range of application reaches from research
and science, modern architecture to
industries such as building industry, food
industry, automobile industry, electronic
industry and furniture industry.
Range of activities
The product range of the German glass
industry has grown historically extremely
wide. Various industries are concerned
with manufacturing glass for a variety of
applications: flat glass producing and
processing, container glass industry,
economic glass industry, mineral fiber
industry
for
insulation
and
other
manufacturers for special and technical
glass.
Shares in Sales Volume (2010)

14%

provide glass processing and finishing. It

employs approximately 50.000 people. The
total annual turnover amounts to
approximately 9 billion euro.
Due to a high international competition in
the field of standard glassware German
glass manufacturers find themselves in a
structural change. An increase of
production for new markets such as the
renewable energies has to be stated. E.g.
manufacturing solar panels or parabolic
reflectors lets the sector for special and
technical glass grow the most.
Sales Index (2005 = 100)
130.0

115.0

100.0

Sales Trend

9%
5%

Sales

85.0

53%

19%
* jan. may 2012
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany

Flat glass (production & processing)

Container glass
Economic glass
Fiber glass
Special & technical glass

Source: Bundesverband Glasindustrie

Main figures
The German glass industry includes about
400 companies that produce container
glass, flat glass and special glass and

Glass machinery
In addition to glass manufacturers, German
glass machinery producers appearing
mostly as small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) have an excellent
international
reputation.
With
its
specialization on process technology and
customized machinery, the industry holds a
leading position in developing and
producing machinery for high-technology

applications such as solar glass, display

glass and special glass in general.
An export share of around 80% (total sales
volume in 2011: ca. 800 million euro)
indicates the trust in German machinery on
the one hand and a huge experience in
satisfying the customers demands from
abroad on the other hand. It has to be
stated that companies from Arabic
countries are listed among the most
important purchasers of German glass
machinery.
Business opportunities
Egyptian companies have realistic chances
to become a player in the German glass
market: First with its locational advantages
such as huge amounts of sand the raw
material for glass and the ability to feed
the energy demand of such a consumptive
industry with gas reserves and a high
potential for producing renewables.
Furthermore Germany depends with a
share of around 40% in domestic market
demand highly on the import of
competitive glass products.
German glass machinery producers have
proved as reliable partners in the Arabic
world in supplying high-quality facilities for
manufacturers.
All information has been researched and compiled
thoroughly. The publisher (and the writers) does not
accept liability for accuracy and completeness of
the content, as well as interim changes.
Status: August 2012