German chemicals lobby sees output falling again in 2026
XLB•First-half production and sales remain weak
Production in Germany's chemical and pharmaceutical industry fell 3% in the first half of 2026, while sales declined 1% to 106 billion euros ($123.4 billion), VCI said. Producer prices rose 2%.
"The half-year results are disappointing," VCI President Markus Steilemann said in a statement.
The group had declined to publish industry forecasts in March and May because of uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, but said any recent improvement in conditions was unlikely to mark the start of a broader turnaround.
VCI said disruptions linked to the conflict had temporarily benefited some European chemical producers by hurting more feedstock-dependent Asian competitors. However, it said the effect was insufficient to offset broader weakness in demand and investment.
Industry sees another year of declining output
Germany's chemical industry expects production, including pharmaceuticals, to fall 1.5% in 2026, its main lobby group VCI said on Thursday, warning that a recent improvement in conditions amounts to only a temporary reprieve rather than a sustained recovery.
The association forecast another year of declining output as weak sales volumes, rising costs and subdued investment continue to weigh on the sector, a key pillar of Germany's manufacturing economy.
Some companies raise forecasts as sector outlook stays cautious
The outlook contrasts with growing optimism at some individual companies. Evonik Industries EVKn.DE and Brenntag BNRGn.DE have both recently raised their full-year profit forecasts.
Germany's chemical and pharmaceutical industry is the country's third-largest industrial sector and is widely seen as a bellwether for manufacturing demand, supplying materials to industries ranging from autos and construction to agriculture and textiles.
