Sales of German container glass in the first half of 2025 were around 1.92 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.0% compared to the same period last year.
While there was a slight decline in Germany, sales abroad were more positive.
In the first half of 2025, the beverage bottles segment recorded a slight year-on-year decline in sales.
Specifically, the minus was 0.8%, which meant that the downward trend of the previous year continued, but in a weaker form.
A differentiated view of the sub-segments shows a mixed picture: While sales in the beer and spirits segment fell substantially with a decline of 6.3%, the wine and sparkling wine segment developed positively and recorded growth of 5.0%.
Sales of non-alcoholic beverages such as water, milk and juice also increased, by 2.4%.
Overall, the negative trend of the past year in the beverage bottles segment is thus continuing less strongly.
At the same time, there are signs of recovery and positive developments in some areas for the first time.
Glass packaging food decline
Packaging Glass for Food and Packaging Glass for Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics segment closed the 1st half of 2025 with a negative sales trend of minus 1.2%.
The sub-segments developed inconsistently: Sales of glass packaging for food without OGS (fruit, vegetables and canned food) increased by 6.7 percent in the 1st half of 2025.
The packaging glass with OGS
sub-segment, on the other hand, recorded a decline of 10.9% compared to the same period last year.
Christiane Nelles, Managing Director of the German Glass Industry Association (BV Glas) said: “The results for the first half of 2025 do not yet show the noticeable recovery of the container glass market that we would have liked.
“Nevertheless, there are positive signs of sales growth in some segments. We hope that these trends will also be reflected in the overall market in the near future.”