In the first half of 2017,German companies exported plastics and rubber machines worth nearly E23 million to Iran. In the first six months of the previous year– when sanctions against the country had first eased – this value was just over E9m. It shows that German exports were multiplied 2.5 times within one year.

For 2016 as a whole, German exports to Iran grew by more than 14% to reach a total of E20m.“Market forecasts suggest further growth,” said Thorsten Kühmann, managing director of the VDMA trade association.

However, he said there were also potential ongoing problems – such as difficult political conditions, and insufficient financial facilities. China has shown the potential of selling plastic and rubber machinery to Iran,as it exported E149m worth of products there in 2016 – a year-on-year increase of more than 15%, making it the leading supplier of plastics and rubber machinery to Iran. Germany is confident that it can keep second spot, said
VDMA. Since 2015, VDMA has organised an Iran management meeting for its members. This year, around 20 members met in the run-up to Iranplast to exchange information on the topics of Industry 4.0 and the circular economy.

Kühmann: “Market forecasts
suggest further growth in
Iran”

Source: pipe and profile extrusion magazine