Abstract: A process for accurately determining the consumption of a raw material in a processing machine or machines, especially plastic processing machines, in which the raw material is stored in a central storage container, comprises weighing or gravimetrically determining only a portion of the raw material stored in the storage container and feeding it to an intermediate storage vessel, from which it is delivered to the processing machine. The apparatus for performing this process comprises a storage container, means for gravimetric determination of a portion of the raw material which comprise a weighing housing which is supported on weighing sensors and an intermediate storage vessel, and supply means for feeding the raw material from the intermediate storage vessel to the processing machine. The weight determination means and the intermediate storage vessel can be suitably disposed in the vicinity of the central raw material storage container.