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Jörg Steinbach (SPD), Brandenburg Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy. © Soeren Stache/dpa
The economy in Brandenburg developed above average in 2023. The Economics Minister is also optimistic for the new year, although there are likely to be setbacks.
Potsdam – Brandenburg’s Economics Minister Jörg Steinbach expects overall positive economic development in Brandenburg in 2024 – but also sees problems, especially in the automotive supplier sector. The SPD politician told the German Press Agency in Potsdam that he assumes that the economy in Brandenburg will continue to develop positively in 2024, contrary to the general national trend.
Nevertheless, small and medium-sized companies in the automotive supply industry in particular, which, for example, supply parts for combustion cars and have not managed the transition to electromobility, could run into problems. “I fear that some companies will disappear from our Brandenburg map,” said Steinbach.
With a view to the expected positive development, he said that further settlements would take place in 2023 that were not yet reflected in the good balance sheet, such as the commissioning of a BASF factory in Schwarzheide. Tesla also wants to expand its production, and in January the railway plant in Cottbus will add 400 jobs. The minister said he assumes that industrial settlements will also take place in 2024.
According to statistics, in the first half of 2023, Brandenburg’s economic output grew more strongly than in any other federal state. The gross domestic product, adjusted for prices, increased by 6 percent compared to the same period last year. The economy across Germany weakened in 2023, and a quick recovery is not in sight.
A possible settlement of the Stuttgart car manufacturer Porsche was recently discussed in southern Brandenburg. However, the Economics Minister has not yet wanted to comment on this. According to information from Porsche in the fall, the construction of another battery factory next to the location in Baden-Württemberg should be examined. In the summer, the chemical giant BASF put a production plant into operation in Schwarzheide for cathode materials as a raw material for electric car batteries.
Steinbach also referred to the difficult situation of the tire manufacturer Goodyear, which wants to close tire production in Fürstenwalde by 2027. In total, around 750 jobs will be gradually eliminated from 2025. The state government is committed to maintaining the tire division at the traditional location in Fürstenwalde in the Oder-Spree district. A working group is scheduled to start work in January.
The rubber industry in Germany has a structural problem that is not limited to Goodyear, said Steinbach. According to Steinbach, higher raw material prices and more expensive supply chains as well as increased energy costs bring significant disadvantages compared to locations in Southeast Asia. “It will be very difficult to have a positive impact on the industry.”
Even an option discussed primarily by the union of producing tires for the nearby Tesla factory would probably not be the hoped-for “game changer” that would improve the situation at the location. Steinbach said that manufacturers don’t make a lot of money by initially equipping cars with tires because the car industry is driving down prices. It will only become profitable if drivers later decide to replace the tires. The decision as to where Tesla sources its tires from is made solely by the company. dpa
2023-12-24 20:43:34
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