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An Encouraging Sign, albeit at a Low Level

An increase in orders from abroad led to growth in North Rhine-Westphalia’s machinery and plant engineering sector in September. An encouraging sign-but a three-month comparison still shows weak demand.

In September 2026, real order intake in North Rhine-Westphalia’s machinery and plant engineering sector was 3 percent above the previous year’s level. Domestic orders declined by 3 percent, while foreign orders rose by 6 percent. An 11 percent increase was recorded for the eurozone; in the non-eurozone, the increase amounted to 4 percent.

In the more meaningful and less volatile three-month period from July to September 2026, the real value of new orders was 6 percent below the level of the same period last year. While domestic demand fell by 7 percent, foreign orders were down 5 percent. Orders from the eurozone remained flat at -0 percent, while orders from outside the eurozone were 8 percent below the 2025 level.

The increase in orders in September is an encouraging sign for the machinery and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia. Positive momentum is coming in particular from abroad. However, the continued decline in the three-month comparison indicates that a sustained recovery has yet to materialize. Competitive business conditions and additional domestic investment remain crucial to sustaining this growth momentum.