Precious Metals Production in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Frankfurt, Germany
Last Updated: August 2024
WZ C24.41DERevenue
€9.5bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
€XXX.Xm
Employees
4,097
Businesses
13
Wages
€XXX.Xm
Precious Metals Production in Germany industry analysis
The high demand for precious metals on the global market is also ensuring growth in the sector in Germany. Especially in times of crisis, investors trust in the stable value of gold and silver and are increasingly demanding products made from these precious metals. There is also a high demand for silver in the electronics and photovoltaic industries. In addition to gold and silver, the metals platinum and palladium also characterise the industry. The automotive industry is the largest consumer of these two precious metals. Since 2019, industry turnover has grown by an average of 8.9% per year and is expected to reach €9.5 billion in the current year. Over the past five years, the precious metals sector has benefited from the high demand from industry and investors as well as the rise in prices for these metals, among other things. < />In 2024, industry sales are expected to increase by 7.1%. This development is primarily due to the high demand for gold as a result of global geopolitical and political uncertainties. Precious metals are used in numerous industries, including the electronics, automotive, jewellery and watchmaking industries, the photovoltaic industry, the financial industry, the chemical industry, the aerospace industry and the medical industry. This is due in particular to the physical, chemical, optical and other properties of precious metals, which create a wide range of possible applications. As there are no significant precious metal deposits in Germany, industry players can only obtain the precious metals they need for processing through imports or by recycling electronic scrap, old metals and other used materials. In order to secure their long-term supply of raw materials, companies are concluding long-term supply contracts with foreign suppliers and investing in the expansion of their recycling capacities.By 2029, industry turnover is expected to fall by an average of 1.4% per year to 8.8 billion euros. However, demand for silver is likely to remain high in view of the increasing digitalisation of society and the energy transition in industries such as electronics and photovoltaics. The industry's profit margin is not expected to change significantly over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
- Precious metals have a long tradition in Germany as an investment. They are often passed down through generations as jewellery or heirlooms.
- Over 50% of industrial demand for gold comes from the jewellery industry. Although manufacturers are particularly interested in gold, they also need large quantities of silver and platinum.
- The largest proportion of all companies in the sector can be found in the South region. This is primarily due to the high number of companies in Pforzheim in Baden-Württemberg.
- There is fierce competition in the industry when it comes to sourcing raw materials. Many processors compete for favourable contracts and try to conclude long-term agreements with mine operators.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €9.5bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
German industry requires a large quantity of precious metals to maintain production
- Silver in particular, but also gold, is used in the production of printed circuit boards, solar cells and other electronic components. Platinum and palladium are used in the automotive industry, for example in catalytic converters, and help to reduce pollutant emissions. The precious metals are also used in various applications in the jewellery, aerospace, chemical and many other industries.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Innovative recycling processes are being researched to make recovery more sustainable and efficient
- The high demand for precious metals and the limited supply mean that industry players are looking for new methods for recycling precious metals. Currently, electrochemical processes such as electrolysis and chemical processes using solvent extraction are most commonly used to recover precious metals from e-waste and other waste.
Biggest companies in the Precious Metals Production in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Aurubis AG | 1,290.0 | |
Heraeus Holding GmbH | 1,120.6 | |
Agosi AG | 754.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including silver, Gold and Platinum. silver is the largest segment of the Precious Metals Production in Germany.
Trends and Insights
High demand from the electronics and photovoltaic industries is boosting sales of silver
- This product group includes silver bars, silver powder and various semi-finished products such as sheets, wires, foils, rods and tubes made of silver.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Iron & Steel Manufacturing in Germany
- Aluminium Production in Germany
- Lead, Zinc & Tin Production in Germany
- Copper Production in Germany
Complementors
- There are no industries to display.
International industries
- Nonferrous Metal Refining in the US
- Copper, Zinc & Lead Refining in Canada
- Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc Smelting and Refining in Australia
- Precious Metals Production in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry of production and initial processing of precious metals includes the processing of the metals gold, silver and platinum. Production can take place either by mining ores or by recycling scrap. The industry does not include the minting of coins, the manufacture of jewellery and silverware or the casting of precious metals.
What's included in this industry?
silverGoldPlatinumPlatingCompanies
Aurubis AGHeraeus Holding GmbHAgosi AGPurchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGCATALYSERARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (KI)ALLOYINGPLATINGRAFFINATIONIndustry Code
WZ 24.41 - Precious Metals Production in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Precious metals have a long tradition in Germany as an investment. They are often passed down through generations as jewellery or heirlooms.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Over 50% of industrial demand for gold comes from the jewellery industry. Although manufacturers are particularly interested in gold, they also need large quantities of silve...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The largest proportion of all companies in the sector can be found in the South region. This is primarily due to the high number of companies in Pforzheim in Baden-Württember...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
There is fierce competition in the industry when it comes to sourcing raw materials. Many processors compete for favourable contracts and try to conclude long-term agreements...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Aurubis utilises state-of-the-art processes and technologies to recycle precious metals in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner. These include smelting, refining,...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Aurubis AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Heraeus Holding GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Agosi AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Aurubis AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Heraeus Holding GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Agosi AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Precious Metals Control Act regulates the manufacture, distribution and labelling of objects made of precious metals in order to protect consumers from counterfeiting. Th...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
In the last five years, the industry's profit margin has been subject to certain fluctuations. The reason for this was the volatile development of precious metal prices.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany in 2024?
The market size of the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany is €9.5bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Precious Metals Production in Germany industry in 2024?
There are 13 businesses in the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 8.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Precious Metals Production market in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Precious Metals Production market in Germany are Aurubis AG, Heraeus Holding GmbH and Agosi AG
What does the Precious Metals Production in Germany include?
silver and Gold are part of the Precious Metals Production industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Precious Metals Production in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in Germany is Aurubis AG.
How competitive is the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Precious Metals Production industry in Germany.
