Some industries may never see demand return to pre-crisis levels as manufacturers learn to live with much lower growth rates in the coming years, according to leading chief executives.

Hans-Paul Bürkner, chief executive of Boston Consulting Group, said companies such as manufacturers of trucks and machines – which have seen revenues plummet 50-70 per cent during the economic crisis – would struggle to return to the levels they achieved at the peak of the boom in 2007.