welt.de
German Chemical Industry Forecasts Stagnation for 2025
Germany's chemical and pharmaceutical industry faces a challenging 2025, with projected stagnation and a 1% turnover decrease to €219 billion, following a 2% drop in 2024; however, pharmaceutical production is expected to increase by 2%, offsetting job losses in the chemical sector, while high energy costs and economic slowdown remain significant challenges.
- What are the immediate economic impacts of the projected stagnation in the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry in 2025?
- The German chemical and pharmaceutical industry anticipates stagnation in 2025, with a slight 1% decrease in turnover to €219 billion, following a challenging 2024. Chemical production is projected to shrink by a further 2%, while the pharmaceutical sector expects a 2% increase. This follows a 2% decrease in turnover to €221 billion in 2024, despite a 1% production increase.
- What long-term systemic changes are necessary to ensure the competitiveness and future viability of Germany's chemical industry?
- The industry's restructuring, including job cuts and plant closures by companies like BASF and Evonik, reflects the ongoing crisis. While the new government's plans offer some hope, concerns remain regarding infrastructure investment prioritization and the potential negative effects of shifting funds to special assets. The industry's recovery depends on swift policy action to address energy costs and bureaucracy.
- How did the contrasting performances of the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors within the industry influence overall employment figures in 2024?
- High energy prices and economic slowdown negatively impact Germany's energy-intensive chemical industry, the third largest after automotive and mechanical engineering. Companies are reducing production, lowering demand for chemical products. Pharmaceuticals, cleaning, and personal care products showed strong demand, particularly in North America, offsetting domestic market struggles.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the negative aspects of the industry's performance. The headline and introductory paragraph immediately highlight the challenges faced by the industry in 2024 and the projected stagnation in 2025. This sets a negative tone and shapes the reader's initial perception of the situation. While it reports some positive aspects such as growth in the pharmaceutical sector and employment remaining relatively stable, the overall emphasis is still on the negative.
Language Bias
The language used tends towards negativity, repeatedly highlighting terms such as "schrumpfen" (shrink), "Rückgänge" (declines), "Konjunkturflaute" (economic slump), and "Branchenkrise" (industry crisis). While these are accurate descriptions, their repeated use contributes to a pessimistic overall tone. The use of the phrase "es gibt keine Schonfrist" (there is no grace period) in a quote from Große Entrup adds to a sense of urgency and pressure. Neutral alternatives could include focusing more on the specific challenges rather than using such emotionally charged terms. For example, instead of "Branchenkrise", a more neutral phrasing could be "challenges facing the industry".
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the negative aspects of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry's performance in 2024, mentioning job cuts and production slowdowns. However, it omits discussion of potential positive developments or innovative solutions within the industry that might counter the negative trends. The article also doesn't explore the perspectives of smaller companies or those outside the VCI, potentially creating a skewed picture. While acknowledging the limitations of space, a broader inclusion of perspectives could have provided a more balanced view.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by framing the situation as solely dependent on government action. While government intervention is important, the article overlooks other factors such as internal industry strategies, global market fluctuations, and technological advancements that also play a significant role in the industry's performance. The implication is that only government action can resolve the issues, neglecting other possible contributing factors and solutions.
Gender Bias
The article does not exhibit overt gender bias. The main spokesperson is male (Wolfgang Große Entrup), but this is not in itself biased if he is the relevant spokesperson. The article lacks specific details about the gender of those affected by job losses or who benefit from the industry's successes. More data on the gender breakdown of employment changes would provide a more complete picture.
Sustainable Development Goals
The German chemical and pharmaceutical industry is facing stagnation and a slight decrease in turnover, leading to job losses in the chemical sector, although pharmaceutical growth and exports offset some of these losses. High energy prices and economic downturn are impacting production and forcing companies to restructure, cutting jobs and halting production at facilities. This directly affects decent work and economic growth within the industry.