Demand in North Rhine-Westphalia’s machinery and plant engineering sector remains weak: In May 2026, order intake was significantly below the previous year’s level—with international business in particular weighing on the trend.
New orders in North Rhine-Westphalia’s machinery and plant engineering sector were down 12 percent in real terms in May 2026 compared with the previous year. While domestic business declined by 6 percent, orders from abroad fell by 14 percent. Orders from the non-eurozone fell by 15 percent, while orders from eurozone countries declined by 11 percent.
In the more meaningful and less volatile three-month period from March to May 2026, total order intake was 6 percent below the previous year’s level. Domestic demand fell by 3 percent, while foreign demand declined by 8 percent. The decline was particularly pronounced in the eurozone, at minus 13 percent, while orders from outside the eurozone remained 5 percent below the previous year’s level.
The latest figures show that the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia continues to operate in a challenging environment. Weak foreign demand, in particular, is weighing on the sector. At the same time, the industry is in a phase of caution: While there are hopes for a revival in demand, geopolitical uncertainties and potential shortages of raw materials are creating ongoing planning risks.