In July 2025, incoming orders in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in North Rhine-Westphalia were 1% higher than in the previous year.
Domestic demand rose by 6%, while incoming orders from abroad fell by 2%. The result in the eurozone did not change compared to the previous year and the non-eurozone recorded a decline of 3%.
In the three-month comparison from May to July 2025, which is less affected by short-term fluctuations, total incoming orders increased by 4%. Domestic orders did not change compared to the same period last year, while foreign business grew by 6%. Demand from the eurozone fell by 7%, while incoming orders from outside the eurozone increased by 13%.
There was a slight increase compared to the previous year. However, this was driven solely by domestic business. Foreign orders fell at the same time. The US customs policy and the reform backlog in both Germany and the EU are hampering the willingness to invest. It is now up to the German government to implement the announced relief measures for companies so that the “autumn of reforms” does not degenerate into a rhetorical phrase.