In May, too, the number of incoming orders in the sector of machine and plant construction continued to be significantly beneath that of the previous year’s month. In total, the number of orders decreased by a real 10 percent. The demand from abroad decreased by 18 percent, domestic orders however increased by 9 percent.
"Without the large-scale plant business, domestic orders would have seen a large decrease as well. The downward trend of the last months has therefore continued in May,” says VDMA chief economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers.
In the month of reporting, there were 36 percent less orders from Europe, and 9 percent less orders from non-European countries.
“Our image of a continually weak global demand in investments is confirmed. For the coming months, existing orders still provide a large enough buffer, but the number of companies experiencing a significant change is growing,” says Wiechers with a view to the latest quick poll by the VDMA. “In 57 percent of companies the stock of orders has decreased either minimally or even significantly over the last three months.”
In the three-month-period from March until May 2023, which is less prone to fluctuations, the orders decreased by a real 12 percent. There were 6 percent less domestic orders, and 15 percent less orders from abroad. In Europe, about 23 percent remained beneath the level of the previous year, the decrease from non-European countries was 11 percent.
