According to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), seasonally and calendar-adjusted, the net order intake in the manufacturing sector rose by 2.5% in July 2026 compared to June 2026. However, excluding major contracts, order intake was 1.4% lower than in the previous month. Over a less volatile three-month period (May 2026 to July 2026), order intake climbed 2.9% compared to the preceding three months, though without major contracts, this growth was only 2.2%. Notably, the order intake for June 2026 increased by 3.7% compared to May 2026, following a revision of the initial estimates (the preliminary figure was +3.1%).
This positive trend in July 2026 is almost entirely attributed to the significant growth within the miscellaneous vehicle construction sector (encompassing aircraft, ships, trains, and military vehicles). Due to an exceptionally high volume of large orders, primarily in shipbuilding, rail, and aircraft construction, order intake in this specialized area more than doubled compared to the previous month (a rise of +126.4%). Conversely, the overall result was negatively impacted by a sharp decline in the automotive industry, which fell by 12.5%.
Looking at specific categories, order intake for capital goods increased by 2.4%, while preliminary goods saw a 4.3% rise. In contrast, consumer goods orders decreased by 4.8%.
Regarding international activity, foreign orders dropped by 2.1% in July 2026. Orders from the Eurozone increased significantly by 12.1%, even as those from outside the Eurozone fell by 10.1%. Domestic orders, meanwhile, climbed by 9.1%.
In terms of revenue, preliminary figures show that real turnover in the manufacturing sector decreased by 1.5% in July 2026 compared to the previous month, when adjusting for season and calendar effects. Compared to July 2025, turnover was down 0.6% after calendar adjustment. Statisticians also noted that turnover for June 2026 saw a decrease of 0.5% compared to May 2026, following a revised estimate (the preliminary figure was -1.3%).
