The ongoing war in Ukraine is also affecting the district of Starnberg. Refugees arrive here and are housed, there are solidarity and fundraisers. But the war is also having an economic impact on the region: In the current situation, many companies have taken a critical look at their relations with Russia – and severed business relationships.
The automotive supplier Webasto, for example, which has sales and administration locations in Russia, reported to the SZ on request: “Webasto has not been delivering any products to Russia for two weeks.” Deliveries to vehicle manufacturers and dealers in Russia primarily included parking heaters. According to the company, the approximately 60 Webasto employees in Russia are currently on short-time work. As far as sales are concerned, it is only about the sale of stock goods that are already available. The delivery stop has been in place since the week of February 28, Webasto reports that it is not yet foreseeable how long it will last.
What does that mean for the turnover of the company, which has its headquarters in Stockdorf? In 2021, business with Russia accounted for only a “very small proportion” of total sales, according to the company, which is optimistic in this regard. “We currently assess the direct economic effects of the war on Webasto as low.” If you take a look at Ukraine, the situation there is still having unclear effects on business, because “it is currently not foreseeable how badly our customers with locations or suppliers in Ukraine will be affected.” For locations in Germany, the company cannot rule out having to “adjust production capacities in March”. Even in German production facilities, short-time work is not excluded at Webasto.
The DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen has also suspended all “bilateral cooperation” with Russian organizations
In addition to Webasto, 3M also acted. The technology group with a location in Seefeld said on request: “After evaluating our business in Russia, we decided to suspend all activities there.” According to 3M, this has been the case since the middle of last week and affects a large factory in Russia.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) with its Oberpfaffenhofen location has also drawn consequences: Because of the war of aggression against Ukraine, the board of directors has decided to stop “bilateral cooperation” with Russian institutions in current or planned projects. DLR spokesman Andreas Schütz emphasizes that there will also be no new projects or initiatives with institutions in Russia. He did not want to say what the specific plans are in Oberpfaffenhofen.
The economy in the district of Starnberg is looking at the war and the unfolding events with great concern, says Katja Lindo, Starnberg District Chairwoman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The uncertainty of the companies is very high. In addition to threatening cyber attacks on companies and disrupted supply chains, there is a risk, according to Lindo, that the prices for raw materials and energy could continue to rise as a result of the war and the sanctions that have been passed. However, the IHK supports the sanctions imposed on Russia under the Putin regime. Because the Russian war of aggression had “destroyed the basis for sustainable economic relations and trusting cooperation for the near future,” says the chairwoman of the Starnberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce regional committee. However, Lindo also points out that stopping energy supplies from Russia to Bavaria could “hit the heart” of the local economy.
Katja Lindo is Starnberg District Chairwoman of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
(Photo: Franz Xaver Fuchs)
There are many questions from affected companies from Upper Bavaria to the IHK, reports their press officer Florian Reil. For example: how to implement the sanctions? Which payment transactions are still permitted for open invoices? The Munich Chamber of Industry and Commerce has set up a task force to help companies directly, says Reil. According to him, around 1,200 Bavarian companies are active in Russia and around 500 in Ukraine.
The Starnberg company Econ Industries was still in contact with Russian customers last year, but the possible business relationships came to nothing, so no contracts for machines were concluded, the company reports. In view of the crisis situation, people at Econ are now very happy about it. The company operates worldwide and recycles hazardous industrial waste and removes pollutants from contaminated soils.