zeit.de
German Chemical Industry Forecasts Stagnant Production, Slight Revenue Drop in 2025
Germany's chemical and pharmaceutical industry forecasts stagnant production and a 1% revenue drop to €219 billion in 2025, despite stable employment at 480,000, as high energy costs and weak domestic demand affect chemical production, while pharmaceuticals see growth in exports.
- How did the performance of the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors differ in 2024, and what factors contributed to these differences?
- High energy prices and economic slowdown negatively impacted the energy-intensive chemical industry, leading to production cuts and reduced demand. However, pharmaceutical growth, driven by exports to Asia and the US, offset job losses in the chemical sector. Despite the crisis, an insolvency wave is not foreseen.
- What are the key policy changes demanded by the VCI, and how might these affect the industry's long-term competitiveness and employment?
- The industry's outlook depends heavily on government action; the VCI urges swift policy implementation regarding taxes, electricity prices, and bureaucracy reduction. Concerns remain about prioritizing infrastructure investments, as the current approach of shifting funds to special funds is deemed insufficient. The industry's future trajectory hinges on these policy decisions.
- What is the projected impact of the economic slowdown and high energy prices on the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry's production and revenue in 2025?
- The German chemical and pharmaceutical industry anticipates stagnant production and a slight 1% decrease in revenue to €219 billion in 2025, following a challenging 2024. While chemical production is projected to shrink by 2%, the pharmaceutical sector expects a 2% increase. The industry's workforce remained stable at approximately 480,000.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the negative aspects of the industry's performance, highlighting the downturn and the need for government intervention. The headline, if one were to be inferred, would likely focus on the stagnation and decline. This emphasis on the negative aspects might create a sense of pessimism and underplay any positive developments within specific sectors.
Language Bias
The language used is mostly neutral and factual, reporting on economic data. However, phrases like "schwierigen Jahr" (difficult year) and "Branchenkrise" (industry crisis) could be considered slightly loaded, although they are common journalistic expressions and their use is not excessively emotive. The quote "Es gibt keine Schonfrist für die neue Bundesregierung, sie muss jetzt liefern" (There is no grace period for the new federal government, they must deliver now) carries a strong tone.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the economic downturn of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry, but omits discussion of potential contributing factors beyond energy prices and economic slowdown. For example, it doesn't explore the role of global competition, technological advancements, or regulatory changes. Further, while it mentions job losses in the chemical sector being offset by gains in pharmaceuticals, it doesn't quantify these losses or provide details on the types of jobs lost. This lack of detail limits a complete understanding of the industry's challenges.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by contrasting the struggles of the chemical industry with the relative success of the pharmaceutical sector. While it acknowledges the differing performance, it doesn't fully explore the interconnectedness of these sectors or the potential for spillover effects. It also implies a simple solution of government intervention without considering the complexity of economic factors.
Sustainable Development Goals
The German chemical and pharmaceutical industry is facing stagnation and a slight decrease in revenue, leading to job cuts and production slowdowns. This directly impacts decent work and economic growth within the sector. The article highlights job losses in the chemical industry, despite slight growth in the pharmaceutical sector and overall stable employment numbers. However, the negative trend in production and revenue signifies a threat to economic growth and stable employment in the long term.