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Difficult year comes to a positive end

Domestic demand increased by 8%, while foreign demand rose by 10%. The eurozone contributed to this result with an increase of 13% and the non-eurozone with an increase of 9%.

In the more significant three-month period from October to December 2024, orders increased by 4% overall compared to the same period in the previous year. Domestic orders remained at the same level as the previous year. Orders from abroad increased by 6%. Demand from Europe remained 4% below the previous year’s figures, while incoming orders from non-European countries were 10% lower than in 2023.

The annual balance for 2024 shows a decline in incoming orders of 8%. Domestic demand fell by 18%, while foreign business was down 3% compared to the same period last year. Demand from the eurozone was down 6% on the previous year and 1% from the non-eurozone.

These figures make it clear that the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering sector is still in a difficult economic phase, which the positive last quarter cannot hide.