German Chemical Plants Are Running at Lowest Level Since 1991

Germany’s chemicals sector operated at just 72% capacity in the second quarter of 2025 — its weakest level in more than 30 years — underscoring the deepening challenges facing both the industry and Europe’s largest economy.

That’s much lower than the threshold needed to break even, according to the VCI chemical and pharmaceutical lobby group. Production fell 5.1% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, dragging on revenues, it said Wednesday.

Despite the promise of the new government to reinvigorate growth, the data show that the struggles of one of the backbones of the country’s economy are far ...