Level 2 minimal - vdma.org

Incoming orders in Hesse continue to fluctuate greatly.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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).

After three months of growth, foreign orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse fell again slightly by 0.8 percent in December.

In December, incoming orders from abroad for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate increased significantly by 32.7%, following four months of double-digit declines.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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%.

Sales up, incoming orders not picking up.

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%.

In February, order books in the mechanical engineering sector filled up unexpectedly strongly by 8% in real terms. Part of this growth was due to large-scale plant business and part to component business.

No recovery at the start of the year - order intake continues to decline, sales develop positively.

Incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector fell by 3% in real terms in January compared to the previous year. There were different developments in the sub-sectors.

Despite strong international business in December - the year 2024 closes with a minus, as feared

The overall result for orders in 2024 in the mechanical and plant engineering sector is disappointing. The wait for a turnaround continues. Better framework conditions in Germany are an important aspect of this.

Stagnation at a low level: The September phenomenon did not bring the hoped-for turnaround.

A small ray of hope in orders from eurozone countries in November does not change the overall weather situation: orders in the mechanical engineering sector are not gaining momentum.

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.

Heavy seas and no calm in sight: the mechanical engineering industry expects a decline in production and a slight reduction in jobs in 2025. A political turnaround is needed to strengthen the industry.

Order books in the mechanical engineering sector remain weak, with 9% fewer orders booked in October than in the previous year. Customers remain hesitant to make new investments

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.

The order situation in the mechanical engineering sector remains weak, particularly in Germany. However, companies are also still waiting for new investment momentum in global business.

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.

In August, incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector increased by 7% compared to the previous year. However, the upward outlier is not yet a trend reversal; special factors were responsible for the result.

The German food machinery and packaging machinery industry increased its exports by 4 percent in the first half of 2024. In 2023, exports rose by 9 percent to 9.9 billion euros - a new record.

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.

For the first time in months, orders only fell in single digits in July. However, this does not yet mean a turnaround; there is a lack of impetus for new investments worldwide.

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.

There are no signs of a turnaround in incoming orders. Orders fell significantly in June and also with a view to the first half of 2024. Germany and the euro countries in particular are weakening.

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.

In May, orders in the mechanical engineering sector were 27% below the previous year's figure in real terms. A large part of the decline can be attributed to a base effect, but the result also reflects a continuing weakness in investment.

This year's summer Executive Board Meeting took place on 29 May at the invitation of Maschinenfabrik Köppern GmbH & Co. KG. One of the items on the agenda was the renaming of the trade association to Mining & Minerals.

In 2023, the production of food processing and packaging machinery increased by 5% to 16.5 billion euros. This means that the fifth-largest mechanical engineering sector exceeded the 16 billion euro mark for the first time and reached a record level.

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 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.

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.

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.