German container glass sales fall 7.8% in first half of 2026

German container glass volumes dropped 7.8% year on year to about 1.82 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, according to trade body Aktionsforum Glasverpackung. Beverage bottles fell 8.7%, with wine and sparkling wine down 11.4% and beer and spirits down 6.4%, while food, pharma and cosmetics glass packaging declined 5.9%. The association's Dorothee Richardt said the hoped-for market recovery has not materialised and warned against a planned increase in taxes on sparkling wine and spirits.

Why this mattersA sustained demand slide in a core glass packaging market signals weaker volumes for bottle makers and pressure on capacity utilisation across German plants.

• German container glass sales fell 7.8% to about 1.82 million tonnes in H1 2026
• Beverage bottle segment volumes down 8.7% year on year
• Wine and sparkling wine glass packaging fell 11.4%, beer and spirits fell 6.4%
• Non-alcoholic drinks (water, milk, juice) glass packaging down 8.2%
• Food, pharma and cosmetics glass packaging segment fell 5.9% overall
• Aktionsforum Glasverpackung warns against a planned tax increase on sparkling wine and spirits

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