The shortage of materials in the industry has eased further. In February, 45.4% of the companies surveyed reported corresponding problems. This is the lowest figure since April 2021, compared to 48.4 percent in January. This is according to the latest survey by the ifo Institute. "Many companies are still unable to ramp up production as desired," says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of ifo Surveys. "But fortunately there are no signs at the moment that the material shortages could worsen again."
A radical easing of the situation in German industry is still a long time coming. More than 70 percent in the mechanical engineering, electrical and automotive industries reported shortages of raw materials and primary products. The situation in the chemical industry has eased further. The same applies to other energy-intensive sectors such as paper, plastics and glass production, where the shares are now below 20 percent. At 9.1%, the paper industry is currently one of the least affected sectors.
