German Machinery and Equipment Exports Reach €99.3 Billion in First Half of 2026, Down 0.8% Year-on-Year

en.Wedoany.com Reported - In the first half of 2026, German machinery and equipment exports reached €99.3 billion, a nominal decline of 0.8% year-on-year, and a real decline of 2.5% after price adjustment. Anke Uhlig, economic expert at the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA), analyzed that geopolitical tensions, US tariff policies, and persistently weak business in China put pressure on exports in the first half of the year. However, the largely stable second quarter and the 6.8% export growth in June significantly cushioned the decline.

Regarding exports to the US, despite headwinds from US President Donald Trump's tariff policies and the stronger euro, exports to the US still grew by 0.5% in the first half of the year, reaching nearly €13 billion, supported by stabilization in the second quarter. Exports to China, however, fell by nearly 14% to just over €7 billion. Business with the EU grew slightly by 1.3%, driven mainly by key markets such as France and the Netherlands.

However, the industry has a mixed outlook for the second half of the year. Uhlig assesses that the recent recovery in exports to the US remains constrained by uncertainty over tariff policies. In the Chinese market, weak demand and intensifying competitive pressure weigh on prospects, while Chinese suppliers are expanding globally. The VDMA cautions that, to diversify export markets more broadly, industry needs more free trade agreements and a more competitive European internal market—and action must be taken quickly.