In May 2025, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 11% higher than in the previous year.
Domestic demand recorded an increase of 14%, while incoming orders from abroad rose by 10%. The eurozone contributed to this result with an increase of 22% and the non-eurozone with growth of 4%.
In the more significant three-month period from March to May 2025, incoming orders fell by 11% compared to the previous year. Orders from Germany rose by 3%, while 16% fewer orders were generated from abroad. Demand from Europe exceeded the previous year’s level by 18%, while incoming orders from non-European countries fell by 27%.
The development of the order volume compared to the previous year’s May initially appears encouraging. However, the comparative month of 2024 was the second weakest of last year. The increase in orders therefore comes as no surprise, but can be partly explained by the so-called base effect. Above all, the continued weak demand from non-European countries is depressing the result.