Level 2 minimal - vdma.org

Foreign orders in mechanical engineering in Saarland show double-digit growth in May 2025. But there is hardly any improvement in sales.

The results for incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Rhineland-Palatinate did not improve in May either, as they are negative across the board. There is also no improvement in turnover.

Incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse continue to fluctuate greatly. In May, they fell by 12 percent after rising by 7.7 percent in April. Sales, on the other hand, are rising again.

The results for incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector in Hesse continue to fluctuate greatly. In April, they rose by 7.7% after falling by 6% in March.

Incoming orders from abroad for mechanical engineering in Rhineland-Palatinate stagnated in April 2025, after falling in February and March but rising by double digits in January.

Domestic orders for Saarland-based mechanical engineering companies have been falling since January 2024 and declined by a further 0.7 percent in April 2025, resulting in an overall decline of 11.2 percent for the first four months of 2025.

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.

Incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector increased by 2% in May compared to the same month last year.

Incoming orders in May were a positive surprise - albeit on a weak prior-year basis. Overall, companies have recorded a small increase in orders so far this year, but global uncertainty remains high.

April brings an increase in orders and a rise in sales thanks to international business.

Incoming orders in the food processing and packaging machinery sector were down 10% in real terms in April compared to the same month last year.

Incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector fell by 6% in real terms in April compared to the previous year. An expected setback, given the uncertainty caused by US tariff policy.

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, 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.

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.

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.