All indicators of importance to the industry pointed downward at the end of the year; this held true for chemical production, producer prices and sales. Chemical business at home in Germany was adversely affected by the weak domestic demand, while weaker dynamics in China and in the USA made themselves felt in foreign trade. By contrast, in Europe – the most important market outside Germany – the chemical industry saw a minor plus.
For 2016 the VCI forecasts an increase in chemical production by 1 percent. Chemical prices are projected to drop by 0.5 percent. Thus, in the current year chemical industry sales could rise slightly by 0.5 percent to €191 billion.