German Industry Sees Second Consecutive Year of Energy Consumption Decline

Energy use in Germany's industrial sector fell by 7.8% in 2023 amid decreasing production, particularly in energy-intensive industries.

The overall energy consumption in German industry dropped to 3,282 Petajoules in 2023, marking a 7.8% decrease from the previous year.
This decline follows a 9.1% reduction in energy use in 2022, largely driven by a downturn in production across energy-intensive sectors.
The chemical industry remained the largest energy consumer, accounting for 26.5% of the total industrial energy usage in 2023.
Energy consumption patterns showed natural gas as the most used energy source, followed by electricity, mineral oils, and coal.
Despite the downturn, the chemical industry is projected to see a 3.5% production increase in the coming year, according to industry forecasts.