There are more than 730 polymer companies in Thuringia, 320 of them in the ‘primary’ category, which means that at least 80 percent of their business has to do with polymers. Most of them are suppliers to the automotive sector or the packaging, electrical engineering and medical technology industries. More than 50,000 people worked for polymer companies in Thuringia in 2014, achieving sales of more than EUR 10 bn, so the sector is not just an important employer in the region but also plays a significant role in keeping its economy humming. Products from these companies are acknowledged internationally for their good quality and are much in demand; 35.1 percent of them are exported, which is a higher percentage than for most products that originate here. (td/maa)
