The slightly positive half-year result of order intake is encouraging. However, it needs to be examined in detail due to special effects and significant differences in domestic and foreign business. The need for reform remains high for Germany and Europe.
Companies in mechanical and plant engineering can look back on a slightly positive first half of 2026 in order intake, shaped by special effects from large plant business. Orders in June exceeded the previous year's level by 21 percent in real terms, and for the first six months of the current year, an increase of 5 percent can be recorded.
The increase in June is driven by large plant business from non-Euro countries. The Euro partner countries show significant declines in order intake, also because the order intake in June 2025 was exceptionally good. Domestic business remains cautious. The uncertainty and investment restraint due to global crises remains high, and in Germany and Europe, there is a fundamental need for reform for better conditions for companies,” explains VDMA economic expert Anke Uhlig.
In June, orders from Euro countries fell by 17 percent in real terms compared to the previous year. For domestic business, there is only an increase of 1 percent in real terms compared to the previous year in the books. In contrast, orders from abroad show a significantly positive trend with an increase of 29 percent in real terms compared to the previous year (non-Euro countries plus 54 percent, Euro countries minus 17 percent).
In the second quarter of 2026, there were 3 percent fewer orders from domestic sources, while foreign orders recorded an increase of 12 percent (non-Euro countries: plus 24 percent, Euro countries minus 15 percent). This resulted in an order increase of 7 percent from April to June compared to the previous year.
In the first half of 2026, companies in domestic business recorded a decrease in orders of 2 percent, while foreign orders increased by 9 percent. Orders from non-Euro countries rose by 16 percent, while orders from the Euro area fell by 8 percent. In total, there was an order increase of 5 percent.
Contact:
www.vdma.eu
