Strong start: At interpack, the packaging machinery sector is demonstrating resilience and a future oriented outlook

Right on the first day of interpack, the VDMA sent a clear signal: despite headwinds, the German food and packaging machinery industry is on solid footing and looking ahead with cautious optimism. At a press conference on Thursday in Düsseldorf, the industry association presented the latest sector figures, put global developments into context and highlighted where the levers for further growth lie.

The figures themselves are impressive: according to the German Federal Statistical Office, production of food and packaging machinery in Germany grew by 4.9 percent in 2025, reaching a new record level of just under €17 billion. Packaging machinery in particular saw strong growth, with production value rising by 8 percent to around €9 billion.
“Our industry has shown sustained positive development in recent years; food processing machinery and packaging machinery are in high demand worldwide,” emphasized Christian Traumann, Chairman of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association.

A key driver remains the steadily growing global demand for packaged food, beverages and pharmaceutical products. According to forecasts by Euromonitor International, sales of packaged food will increase by 11 percent from 2024 to 2029, reaching 968 million tonnes.
“This is directly reflected in demand for food processing and packaging machinery,” said Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association. “Between 2020 and 2024 alone, the global export value of these machines totalled €242 billion. Hardly any other segment in international mechanical engineering shows comparable momentum.”

Internationally, the industry is broadly positioned: around 80 percent of machinery is exported. Europe remains the most important sales market, followed by North America. In 2025 alone, German manufacturers exported machinery worth almost €1.8 billion to the United States – despite trade policy uncertainties. For the U.S., Germany continues to be the leading supplier, ahead of Italy, Canada and China.

However, the overall assessment is not without its setbacks. New orders in 2025 were slightly below the previous year, and the first quarter of 2026 has so far been more subdued than hoped.
“Geopolitical crises, economic slowdowns in many key sales markets, U.S. tariff policy, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the latest developments in Iran are creating uncertainty and delaying investment decisions,” Traumann explained.

Nevertheless, the outlook remains positive: growth prospects for the sector are fundamentally intact, given the previously mentioned strong global developments in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

A major topic at the press conference was the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will come into force on 12 August 2026. The VDMA welcomes the goal of harmonised European rules.
“What is particularly positive is that the previous national patchwork will be replaced by uniform European regulations,” said Clemens. However, he also sees significant challenges – for example with binding recycled‑content quotas for food packaging. “These involve contact‑sensitive packaging with the highest requirements for hygiene and product protection. Food safety must be guaranteed at all times and must comply with EU regulations on food contact materials in order to rule out risks such as contamination.”

At the same time, according to the VDMA, regulation is acting as a catalyst for innovation. New materials such as mono‑materials, fibre‑based packaging and packaging containing recycled content require flexible, material‑agnostic machine concepts.
“We are currently experiencing a real paradigm shift when it comes to machine compatibility,” said Clemens. Today, machines must be able to process a much broader range of materials reliably – while maintaining consistently high speeds.

In addition to sustainability, digitalisation and artificial intelligence are the key drivers behind the current wave of innovation in mechanical engineering. Sensors, real‑time data analytics, digital twins and AI‑based simulations are increasing efficiency, transparency and investment security across the entire machine lifecycle. The decisive factor remains the tangible benefit for the user.

At the same time, the human factor is gaining greater importance: mechanical engineering requires skilled professionals with digital and interdisciplinary competencies – and machines that are intuitive to operate and optimally support employees.

Against this backdrop, interpack is once again playing a central role. “In this dynamic environment, interpack serves as the key meeting place along the entire value chain: companies showcase their capabilities, set new impulses and present innovations,” said Traumann. Personal exchange and discussions with customers from around the world are also a key focus.

The packaging machinery sector is therefore not only a stable pillar of industry, but also a pace‑setter for sustainable, digital and efficient solutions across global markets.

VDMA at interpack.