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Röchling: Decline in sales despite brilliant successes in the plastics industry!
Mannheim: Review of Röchlings 2024, decline in sales and strategic developments in the plastics industry.
Röchling: Decline in sales despite brilliant successes in the plastics industry!
Boss Raphael Wolfram von Röchling thinks that last year was quite a balancing act. With sales of almost 2.6 billion euros, the company had to accept a decline of a good 5 percent compared to 2023. Although the numbers in most regions of the world were down between 6 and 8 percent, there was a bright spot in the Americas, where the company recorded a sales increase of 3.2 percent. But the company traditionally does not disclose detailed results, leaving it up to industry observers to analyze the situation. Nevertheless, there are signs of an “almost constant level” in sales for 2025, according to the management board's forecasts.
In the first quarter of 2024, Röchling achieved revenues of 662 million euros, which is an increase of 34 million euros compared to the same period last year. The automotive division was the biggest revenue generator with sales of 1.24 billion euros (a decrease of 1.6 percent). The “Industrial” division, on the other hand, recorded a decline of almost 7 percent to 1.12 billion euros, which was primarily due to falling prices. The “Medical” division also suffered and fell by 11 percent to 231 million euros, which is due to the reduction in inventories.
Positive business despite challenges
A look at regional developments shows that the Americas region grew by 10.1 percent and Asia even by 12.9 percent. In Germany itself, an increase in sales of 8 million euros to 958 million euros was also recorded, which corresponds to growth of 0.8 percent. The rest of Europe increased sales by 7 million euros to 725 million euros, an increase of 1.0 percent. The number of employees in the Röchling Group was 11,988 at the end of 2023, increasing by 2.1 percent, while the number of trainees rose to 307.
A look into the future of the plastics industry
The plastics industry in Germany remains a central economic sector and includes not only plastics producing but also plastics processing companies. Loud Statista The industry has seen production increases in the past, with sales of almost 85 billion euros being achieved in 2021. The main areas of application are diverse - from packaging to the construction and automotive industries to medical technology. Germany plays a leading role compared to other European countries, both in production and in research and development.
Overall, the development of the Röchling Group shows that the path in plastics processing is characterized by challenges. A good hand is needed to navigate this successfully and to continue to survive in the market while the industry has to adapt to international competition.