Economic Situation - vdma.org

The textile machinery industry continues to face a challenging market environment. Global demand remains subdued and almost all sales markets are affected by a reluctance to invest.

In March, incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector rose by 15% in real terms compared to the weak previous year's figure. Domestic orders rose by 30% and orders from abroad by 12%.

Incoming orders and sales in the process engineering sector develop negatively in March Incoming orders: slightly down / turnover: very clearly down on the same month last year.

In April 2025, 329 new firefighting vehicles were registered in Germany.

On behalf of the VDMA Germany Trade and Invest (gtai) publishes reports on the construction industry of selected markets.

The first quarter of 2025 resulted in an overall increase in orders of 4% - the first positive quarterly balance of orders in three years. March also closed with a pleasing increase in orders of 4%.

Buoyant foreign orders - weak domestic demand: In March 2025, incoming orders showed two very different faces. The bottom line was a considerable increase of 30 percent.

Buoyant foreign orders - weak domestic demand: In March 2025, incoming orders showed two very different faces. The bottom line was a considerable increase of 30 percent.

In March 2025, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 22% down on the previous year.

In March 2025, incoming orders in the Bavarian mechanical and plant engineering sector recorded an increase of 36% in real terms compared to the previous year.

Download the key figures (in German) here.

Download the key figures (in German) here.

The VDMA reports a decline in production in the food processing and packaging machinery sector of just under 2% to EUR 16.1 billion, while exports grew by 6% to EUR 10.6 billion.

Here you can download our digital press kit and the press kit of our cooperation partner, the Fraunhofer IVV.

Information on the development of incoming orders for manufacturers of compressors, compressed air and vacuum technology can be found here.

Information on the development of incoming orders for liquid pumps can be found here.

After the poor start to the year for foreign orders in mechanical engineering in Hesse in January (-15.8%), orders rose by 6.6% in February 2025. This represents a decline of 6.1 percent up to February.

Sales up, incoming orders not picking up.

With a monthly update, which is exclusively available for download to VDMA member companies, we inform you about the development of price indices for process engineering goods.

Start of successful association networking. Despite difficult circumstances, bauma 2025 attracts its first visitors from Ukraine - in search of strong German partners in mechanical engineering.

After three consecutive years of growth, Saxony's mechanical engineering companies lost momentum in 2024. Turnover and employment figures are pointing downwards. The association expects a mixed result for 2025.

Incoming orders from abroad for the mechanical engineering sector in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by 0.5% in February 2025, following a double-digit increase two months earlier. Growth of 5.9% therefore remains until February.

Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland have been falling since January 2024 and fell by a further 15.6% in January 2025, resulting in a total decline of 10.3% by February 2025 (see table 1 and chart).

List of planned experience exchange events ("ERFA") from the North, VDMA Landesverband Nord and the AG Marine Equipment and Systems (MES).

The global food and beverage industry is one of the most dynamic growth sectors. Plastic dominates sales of retail packaging for food and beverages.

Global demand for packaged food, beverages, liquid food, pharmaceutical products and other non-food products will continue to rise in the coming years. The packaging machinery industry is benefiting from these developments.

Spain increased its exports of meat processing machinery by 3.1% in 2024. Companies exported machines worth 77 million euros.

We provide a download from Euler Hermes on the new possibilities of Hermes Cover. The file contains important details on company-related support.

Italy increased its exports of meat processing machinery by 3.8% in 2024. Companies achieved a record level of 182 million euros in foreign trade.

For several years now, we have been producing monthly data sheets on various sectors, categories and countries based on data from Euromonitor International. We publish the latest editions via the monthly newsletter NuV-Telegramm and make them available for download here with immediate effect. If you are not yet familiar with the data, we will briefly explain what is available to you here.

As an important service, VDMA Armaturen offers member companies regular updates on key industry facts relating to the building and industrial valves industry.

In March 2025, 282 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany.

In February, incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector fell by 11% in real terms compared to the previous year. Domestic orders rose by 3%, while orders from abroad fell by 13%.

Monthly tracking of the market development of valve-relevant raw materials with a focus on non-ferrous metals

After a good previous month, business for German building fittings manufacturers remained on an expansion course in March. Sales climbed again both in Germany and abroad.

After a strong start to the year, industrial valves manufacturers' sales fell slightly in March as a result of declining foreign demand. Domestic sales, on the other hand, increased slightly.

Monthly tracking of the market development of raw materials relevant to valves with a focus on steel and cast iron.

In February 2025, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 16% higher in real terms than in February 2024.

India's Interim Union Budget for 2024 projects a reduction in the revised fiscal deficit and a decline in inflation. These key economic indicators signal a promising future for the Indian economy, even amidst global economic uncertainties.

Baden-Württemberg's mechanical and plant engineering sector recorded a 5% increase in orders in real terms in February 2025 compared to the same month last year.

After a weak start to the year, patience is still required: the eastern German mechanical and plant engineering sector once again saw a drop in orders in February. Only customers from the eurozone invested generously.

In February 2025, incoming orders in the Bavarian mechanical and plant engineering sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 7% in real terms

The weakness in orders in Baden-Württemberg's mechanical engineering sector continues into the new year.

For the second month in a row, incoming orders from abroad for the mechanical engineering sector in Rhineland-Palatinate showed double-digit growth, following four months of double-digit declines.

The economic situation for the mining industry as a whole remains stable at a good level.

Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland have been falling since January 2024 and fell by a further 23.8% in December, resulting in an overall decline of 12.2% for 2024 (see table 1 and chart).

The future prospects of the supplier industry for the meat and protein sector are positive, as the global food industry is developing dynamically. Germany is on its way to becoming the leading market for meat substitute products.

Thuringia's mechanical and plant engineering sector continued the previous year's very good sales result in 2024 despite the difficult conditions. The industry fell just short of the 4 billion mark.

On a monthly basis, our economic update gives a brief overview of the ecomomic situation of the construction equipment industry, e.g. order income, turnover, business climate and trade figures.

Information on production volume, employment development and foreign trade data, as of March 2025