The mechanical engineering companies in Germany recorded a weak start to the year in their order books. In January 2026, orders were 6 percent lower in price-adjusted terms compared to the previous year.
Domestic orders fell by 8 percent compared to January 2025, while foreign orders decreased by 5 percent. The demand from Euro partner countries (down 8 percent) was even weaker than business with non-Euro countries (down 4 percent).
"Some sentiment indicators had recently pointed upwards, so the decline in orders in January is a surprisingly weak start to the year 2026. So far, it is just one month's figure; we need to wait and see how orders develop in the coming months. The war that has now begun in the Gulf region and the associated additional geopolitical uncertainty will certainly not help export-oriented companies and their customers overcome the global investment weakness," says VDMA Chief Economist Dr. Johannes Gernandt.
In the less volatile three-month period from November 2025 to January 2026, companies recorded an order decline of 2 percent in real terms. Domestic orders fell by 4 percent, while foreign orders recorded a decrease of 1 percent. Orders from Euro countries were down 4 percent, while orders from non-Euro countries stagnated.
Contact:
