Incoming orders from abroad for the mechanical engineering sector in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by 4.7% in March 2025, following a double-digit increase in December and January.
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The digital transformation in mechanical engineering is also reflected in total IT costs, which have been rising at an average rate of 5% per year faster than sales since 2017.
Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland have been falling since January 2024 and fell by a further 3% in March 2025, resulting in an overall decline of 8% in the first quarter of 2025. (see table 1 and chart).
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 March 2025, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 22% down on the previous year.
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.
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.
In light of Trump’s tariffs, analysts highlight ASEAN’s risks from trade tensions but remain optimistic about the region's resilience. Singapore’s semiconductor industry stays cautious, exporters diversify suppliers and customers amid uncertainties.
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).
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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.
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.
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).
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.
No recovery at the start of the year - order intake continues to decline, sales develop positively.
In February 2025, 243 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany.
Incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector in January 2025 were 1% higher in real terms than in January 2024.
After three months of growth, foreign orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse fell again slightly by 0.8 percent in December.
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.
In December, incoming orders from abroad for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate increased significantly by 32.7%, following four months of double-digit declines.
As an important service, VDMA Armaturen offers member companies regular updates on key industry facts relating to the building and industrial valves industry.
Despite strong international business in December - the year 2024 closes with a minus, as feared
In January 2025, 201 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany.
For the third time in a row, foreign orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse have increased. In November it was even a double-digit plus of 17 percent.
In December 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 10% higher than in the previous year.
Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland have been falling since January 2024 and fell by a further 13.7% in November, resulting in a decline of 11.3% for the first eleven months of 2024 (see table 1 and chart).
In November, incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate fell for the fourth month in a row, with double-digit declines of 21.2% in Germany and 17.9% abroad. This means that the declines are again sharper than in the previous month.
Stagnation at a low level: The September phenomenon did not bring the hoped-for turnaround.
In October, incoming orders for the mechanical engineering sector in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by 10.6% in Germany and 15.2% abroad for the third month in a row.
The VDMA economic survey for the 4th quarter of 2024 has been sent out a few days ago and will run until January 17th. The results will be available to all participating companies at the end of January.
In December 2024, 317 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany.
Foreign orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse rose by a further 2.1% in October following 7.8% in the previous month. This was the fifth increase so far in 2024.
In November 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 6% down on the previous year.
In September, foreign orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse finally rose again by 7.8%. This was the fourth increase so far in 2024.
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In September, incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by 17% in Germany and 22% abroad for the second month in a row.
In October 2024, orders in the process engineering sector were significantly lower than in the previous year. Turnover, on the other hand, exceeded the previous year's figure.
In November 2024, 304 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany.
The mechanical and plant engineering industry in North Rhine-Westphalia continues to be burdened by the weak global economy and by geopolitical challenges. VDMA NRW expects production to decline by 2% in real terms in 2025.
In October 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 7% higher in real terms than in the previous year.
Again and again in September: very significant swings - resulting from large-scale plant business - have had an impact on the year-to-date order intake and turnover in the process engineering sector.
310 new fire fighting vehicles were registered in Germany in October 2024.
In August, there was once again no positive outlook for incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse, with double-digit declines of 13.5 percent from Germany and 13.9 percent from abroad.
In August, incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by a double-digit 22.3% in Germany and 25.5% abroad.
Incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector in September 2024 were 14% down on the previous year in real terms
The situation remains tense, even though incoming orders increased in August compared to the (weak) same month last year. However, turnover fell by the same amount compared to August 2023.
Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland have been falling since January 2024 and fell by a further 10.3% in October, resulting in a decline of 11.1% for the first ten months. (see table 1 and chart).
In September 2024, 236 new fire department vehicles were registered in Germany.
In August 2024, incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector were 10% down on the previous year's result.
VDMA NRW is adjusting its production forecast for 2024 to minus 8 percent in real terms. At the beginning of the year, VDMA NRW was still forecasting a decline in production of 2% in real terms.
The situation remains critical: in July, orders in the Process Engineering sector were once again significantly lower than in the same month last year. Turnover increased slightly compared to June 2023.
In July 2024, incoming orders in the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering sector were 10 per cent down on the previous year.
In June, incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by 4.1% in Germany and by 5.9% abroad.
In June, there was a double-digit decline of 21.5% in incoming orders from the domestic mechanical engineering sector in Hesse, a correction to the good result of the previous month, which had special effects with growth of 42%.
In May, incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate fell by a double-digit 19.1% in Germany and by 8.4% abroad.
Things are starting to get dramatic: in June, orders in the Process Engineering sector were also significantly lower than in the same month last year. Turnover also fell sharply compared to June 2023.
The industry's key figures at a glance.
Domestic orders for Saarland mechanical engineering companies fell for the fifth consecutive month in May by 7.2%, resulting in a decline of 9.2% for the first five months.
Incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector in June 2024 were 15% down on the previous year.
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In April, incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse rose by 6.2% across the board. This is the first increase since October 2022.
That hurts: in May, orders in the process engineering sector were also significantly lower than in the same month last year. Only the increase in turnover compared to May 2023 is positive.
Domestic orders for mechanical engineering companies in Saarland fell for the fourth consecutive month in April by 2.0%, resulting in a decline of 9.6% for Q1 2024 (see table 1 and chart).
Incoming orders for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate saw a double-digit increase of 14.1% in April 2024. At 12.1%, foreign orders grew less strongly than domestic orders at 18.4%.
In May 2024, incoming orders in the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering sector fell 45% short of the previous year's result.
Similar picture to March: Order intake and sales in the process engineering sector developed differently in April. Incoming orders down significantly, sales up compared to the same month last year.
In April 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia exceeded the previous year's figure by 22% in real terms.
In March 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 12% higher than in the previous year.
A spirit of optimism in Saxony-Anhalt: the state's mechanical engineering companies generated more turnover in 2023 than ever before. Foreign business was the decisive factor.
In February 2024, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 3% down on the previous year.
In January 2024, incoming orders for the process engineering sector were down on the same month of the previous year, while sales recorded a very significant increase.
Incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector in January 2024 fell 16% short of the previous year's result.
For the month of December 2023, the process engineering sector recorded an increase in incoming orders and a sharp drop in turnover compared to the same month of the previous year.
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In December 2023, incoming orders in North Rhine-Westphalia's mechanical and plant engineering sector fell short of the previous year's level by 25% on a price-adjusted basis.
The VDMA NRW expects sales to fall by 4% in real terms in 2024. This forecast reflects the negative trend in demand over the past year.
In November 2023, demand for machinery and equipment from North Rhine-Westphalia was down 19% year-on-year in real terms
Demographic change, a shortage of skilled workers, unfilled training positions - these are currently predominant issues in Germany when it comes to recruiting employees. But what is it like in other countries? We asked around locally.
Companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia have a negative view of the quality of Germany as a business location, with only the United Kingdom rated worse - this is shown by the results of the VDMA's snap survey conducted in June 2023, in which 667 member companies, 165 of them from North Rhine-Westphalia, took part.
The Japan Construction Report is provided by the VDMA team in Tokyo. It contains news of the construction, glass and ceramics industry of Japan and is published monthly in German. The most recent report can be downloaded from this website.
Recent market information from the Indian construction and construction equipment industry are summarized in the bi-monthly report made by the VDMA team in Kolkata. The latest issue may be downloaded from this website.
