For manufacturers of machines and systems for the confectionery industry the interpack has always been the most important trade fair worldwide. Clustered in halls 1 to 4, the industry presents its innovations for energy efficient, hygienic and economical confectionery production.
The engineering of confectionery machines is characterised by a high level of specialisation and very extensive know-how of process engineering. The product range includes machines for cocoa processing and the production of cocoa paste, chocolate, sugar confectioneries, biscuits and wafers. The German production value for confectionery machines in the narrower sense was around 300 million Euro in 2016 according to the German Federal Statistical Office. This is supplemented by thermal processing systems for the confectionery industry, such as sugar boiling plants, which are not included in the official statistics. The VDMA estimates the production value for this sector at around 120 million Euro. Including systems for dry baked goods and packaging machines, the overall market volume probably amounts to around 650 to 700 million Euro.
Internationally leading manufacturers
The German manufacturers of confectionery machines are internationally leading with a share in foreign trade of 37 per cent. They are exceptionally active particularly in non-European countries. In 2016 the export volume for the product group “machines for the production of confectionery, cocoa and chocolate” was 240 million Euro - a decline of 22 percent compared to 2015. In general, the export business in the confectionery machine sector is strongly characterised by large projects and therefore subject to great fluctuations. Furthermore, in the year 2015 foreign business reached the highest level by date – and that level could not be reached in 2016. Exports to all important regions declined, except the deliveries to Africa and the Middle East which showed a remarkable increase.
In 2016, the most important sales region for confectionery manufacturers was the region “Europe, other” with a share of 29 per cent and Russia as the most important individual market. The second strongest region was the EU with a share of 24 per cent. The share of Asia reached 13 per cent. 5 Per cent of German exports were delivered to Africa and Latin America each and 2 per cent to the region Near/Middle East.
Regional distribution of the exported confectionery machines is influenced by different factors: Multinational companies are investing in promising growth markets, building up production capacities to be able to serve the market. At the same time, local medium-sized manufacturers are investing to keep up with the competition. The focus is on quality improvement. The industrial countries invest in modernization and enlargement of production capacities. Their focus is on energy efficiency and the reduction of production costs.
The top sales market for the German manufacturers of confectionery machines are currently Russia and the USA. The top 10 buyer countries 2016 also included Ukraine, Pakistan and China. Confectionery machines are delivered to more than 100 countries.
Because of the global decrease in demand for confectionery machines in the year 2016, expectations of the exhibitors are high that interpack will give strong impetus for the business year 2017 and beyond.
Do you have any questions? Beatrix Fraese, VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, will be happy to help. Telephone +49 151 1466 2865
VDMA stand: Hall 5, Stand J38
