According to the latest research from glasstec, while the glass industry in Western Europe has been reluctant to make investments, a current revival of the markets in North America and Russia can be detected. In addition the sector is hoping for growth from India, South America and Eastern Europe, where obsolescent machinery will require new investment. In Asia the enormous demand for plate glass in China has above all ensured that new orders have been generated - but against this the trend in other Asian markets continues to be restrained.
The Western European manufacturers of machinery and installations for the manufacture and processing of glass are very export-oriented and to a large extent dependent upon world economic developments. In the case of the German glass machine industry, for instance, the export quota amounts to approximately 80% of all sales. The largest market is still Western Europe, which accounts for almost a third of the items produced. But the increasing incoming orders from regions such as Eastern Europe and Asia have ensured that there has been a shift in exports. Asia now accounts for more than a quarter of the exports, Eastern Europe just trails it with an approximately 25% share.

Similar developments can be witnessed in Italy - 75% of the Italian manufacturers' glass products are for the export sector.

The European machine manufacturers anticipate that the greatest drive will come from the Asian and eastern European markets in the future. This applies above all to the plate glass sector. Hence a constant increase in demand for machinery and installations can be anticipated in China due to the flourishing construction sector and the increased levels of automotive production. Therefore the developments for the sector in 2003 could also continue to apply in 2004 even if the current exchange rate of the Euro does not exactly enhance the export opportunities. Eastern Europe, with a share of roughly 20%, is the second largest exporter of glass products to Germany achieving higher export levels than Asia or America.

Important foreign markets for the European glass manufacturers include Africa and the Arabian countries in addition to Eastern Europe, Asia and North America. The trend that has been witnessed for several years continues by means of these developments whereby the non-European markets are increasing in terms of their significance due to their more dynamic rates of growth.