The year 2025 remains marked by high economic and geopolitical uncertainty, strongly influencing investment decisions in industrial plastics machinery. Trade tensions, tariff fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions are creating a climate of caution for many manufacturers.
The European Commission projects moderate GDP growth of 1.1% in the EU and 0.9% in the euro area this year. In contrast, Germany — a key hub for machinery manufacturing — expects a real production decline of –5%. Meanwhile, in the U.S., plastics machinery shipments fell 17.5% in Q1 2025 compared to the previous quarter.
These indicators reveal that demand for new machinery is under pressure, particularly for short-term investments.
New machinery market: entering an adjustment phase
In recent years, new plastics machinery sales reached record levels. In 2025, many of these orders are still being delivered, but the volume of fresh investments has slowed due to macroeconomic uncertainty.
Nevertheless, the medium-term outlook remains positive, driven by the transition toward more energy-efficient and sustainable equipment, particularly machinery designed for recycling processes and bioplastics production, which are increasingly required by current regulations.
Used machinery market: high demand meets limited supply
The used plastics machinery market continues to experience strong demand, mainly due to:
- Long lead times for new equipment deliveries.
- Financial uncertainty encouraging companies to delay large capital expenditures.
- Owners postponing the sale of idle machinery, reducing overall supply.
This imbalance — high demand versus low supply — is pushing used machinery prices upward.
As newly purchased machines are installed and start production, more second-hand machinery is expected to enter the market, which should gradually ease supply shortages later in 2025.
MachinePoint’s strategic recommendations
In 2025, making the right decision at the right time is crucial. At MachinePoint, we recommend:
- Selling unused equipment now, while demand remains strong.
- Conducting accurate technical and market valuations before putting machines up for sale.
- Reaching international buyers to maximize opportunities and avoid local competition.
- Acting quickly to close deals, as volatility punishes indecision.
- Ensuring transparent and professional transactions to maintain trust on both sides.
By combining accurate evaluations with access to a global network of serious buyers, MachinePoint helps guarantee efficient, secure, and profitable transactions in the used plastics machinery market, even in uncertain times.
