Germany imports significantly more fireworks
Germany will import 6400 tons of fireworks in 2022, most of which will come from the Far East. This will remain the same, but the quantity will increase dramatically before the turn of the year.
Germany has imported almost four times as many fireworks this year as in the previous year. Compared to the first three quarters of 2022, the figure rose by 283 percent to 24,400 tons by the end of September, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden. However, the pre-corona level has not yet been reached.
From January to September 2019, imports of rockets, firecrackers and the like were 18% higher than this year's figure at 29,800 tons. Last year, however, only 6,400 tons were imported; before that, the figure was even lower due to a sales ban. A ban was also discussed last year.
With a share of 95 percent, almost all fireworks imported from January to September came from China, the statisticians explained. Over the past 20 years, Chinese imports to Germany have consistently accounted for more than 90 percent of imported firecrackers.
Meanwhile, export figures have risen significantly - not only compared to the previous year, but also compared to 2019. 4900 tons of rockets and firecrackers were exported abroad by the end of September this year, compared to just over 2700 tons in the same period last year and just under 2000 tons in 2019, according to the statistics office. The most important buyers of fireworks from Germany are the Netherlands (73%), Italy (11%) and Belgium (8%).
Police union warns of riots
Firecrackers are always associated with crimes and accidents on New Year's Eve. The Federal Chairman of the German Police Union (DPolG), Rainer Wendt, warns politicians against underestimating the danger of renewed violent riots on New Year's Eve. "The mood is generally heated and it is likely to get worse before New Year's Eve," Wendt told the Bild newspaper, referring in particular to the riots in Berlin in recent weeks. That is why the police are "forewarned, but also very determined", he emphasized.
However, Wendt rejected a complete ban on firecrackers on New Year's Eve. This would punish all citizens who use fireworks responsibly just "because a few hundred idiots go berserk and attack the police and emergency services", he said.
"In practice, the deployment of strong police forces is necessary, including water cannons to clear streets," Wendt told the Bild newspaper. It would be right to equip the police with modern technology so that they can collect evidence so that the perpetrators can be punished, the union leader demanded and warned: "If the justice system continues to work with mini-punishments, we will never get a grip on this."
The increased fireworks imports are particularly noticeable before New Year's Eve, with Germany expecting a significant surge in 6400 tons of fireworks. The excitement and celebrations on New Year's Eve often lead to incidents and crimes associated with firecrackers, as warned by the Federal Chairman of the German Police Union, Rainer Wendt.
Source: www.ntv.de
