It seems incredible, and yet it can no longer be ruled out. Heart of industrial Europe, Germanyis under threat of gradual deindustrialization as dizzying energy costwhich is steadily growing every day, could lead to a mass exodus of businesses from the largest economy. Europe. The energy crisis has hit Germany hardest, with energy prices rising fastest in Europe’s largest economy, and the auto parts, chemicals and steel industries struggling to cope with skyrocketing energy prices. The government has taken steps to somewhat curb the rise in household energy costs, but businesses are not immune and many will be forced to hand over accuracy to consumers or even shut down.

In the last two months, only his prices electricity and his natural gas in Germany have more than doubled, with the price of electricity exceeding 540 euros per megawatt-hour, while just two years ago it did not exceed 40 euros. “Energy price inflation here in Germany is much more dramatic than elsewhere,” comments Ralf Stoffels, CEO of BIW Isolierstoffe GmbH, an industry producing silicone components for the automotive, aerospace, electrical and electronics industries. Ralph Stoffels went so far as to confess to Bloomberg his fears about the inevitability of “the gradual de-industrialization of Germany.”

The price of electricity has exceeded 540 euros per MWh, while two years ago it did not exceed 40 euros.

“Energy prices are an unsustainable burden for many of the energy-intensive industries that operate and compete in the global market,” emphasizes Matthias Roos, representative of Evonik Industries AG, the world’s second largest chemical industry with production facilities in 27 countries. However, the idea of ​​moving the industry to another country does not seem to have much chance of success. However, there are signs that Germany is starting to lose ground as an industrial nation. In the first six months of the year, imports of chemicals increased by about 27% compared to the corresponding period last year, while domestic production of chemicals decreased by almost 8% over the same period.

Europe’s largest copper producer, Hamburg-based Aurubis AG, plans to minimize the use of natural gas and pass energy costs on to consumers. The sugar industry Suedzucker AG has developed plans for what to do if Russia completely cuts off gas supplies to Germany. Automaker BMW AG is stepping up preparations for a potential energy shortage. It has 37 units that generate heat and electricity in Germany and Austria and run on natural gas. Now he is considering using household utilities from now on. Finally, the packaging industry Delkeskamp Verpackungswerke GmbH plans to close one of its factories, which means 70 people will lose their jobs.