Munich (dpa / lby) – The exports of the Bavarian metal and electrical industry have decreased in quantity despite higher sales. From January to August, sales rose by 5.6 percent year-on-year, but exports fell by 4.9 percent in volume terms, as the employers’ associations Bayme and VBM announced on Friday. “The prices for goods from the Free State are rising, but in return the purchase prices and costs for the companies are increasing much more,” said General Manager Bertram Brossardt against the background of the current wage round.
“Our companies cannot, or not fully, pass on the high cost increases, especially for energy, to their customers,” explained Brossardt. The metal and electronics industry includes Siemens, BMW and Audi. According to Brossardt, car manufacturers also exported 2.6 percent less in terms of volume, but increased sales by 12.4 percent.
According to an internal company survey by the association, every sixth company in the industry is considering relocating production abroad. “De-industrialization has begun and we have to be careful that we are still internationally competitive after the crisis,” Brossardt warned.
In the current wage negotiations, employers are rejecting IG Metall’s demand for an eight percent increase in salary. The trade union, in turn, accused employers of overstated panic scenarios on Thursday because of the warnings of deindustrialization. The third round of talks is scheduled for next week.
