Manufacturers of Standard Pallets Have Seen a Slightly Weaker Level of Demand for Standard

Following relatively brisk business in the first few months of the current year, manufacturers of standard pallets have since approximately the beginning of May seen a slightly weaker level of demand for standard pallets on the German sales market. In terms of both new EUR pallets and chemical pallets, sales figures and order receipts have fallen in recent weeks and also year on year. Manufacturers report that the number of client enquiries, especially for larger delivery con-tracts for standard pallets, has also been down on those seen in previous months. Producers partly attribute this to the fact that industry is currently relatively well stocked with load carriers as a result of intensive buying in the period January to April 2012. In addition, a slight weakening of export business in May was observed again, which was accompanied by a somewhat lower requirement for pallets, and numerous clients used the public holidays and the days between public holidays and weekends in May to reduce overtime accounts. Pallet producers also take the view that the latest fall in demand is partly explained by the consequent fewer number of working days in May. However, manufacturers consider that order receipts in the first days of June permit the conclusion that the coming weeks will see slightly brisker business.