According to preliminary data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday, real orders of business in the German manufacturing sector rose by 4.4 percent in September 2026 compared to August, after being seasonally and calendar-adjusted. Excluding large orders, the incoming orders increased by 5.1 percent over the previous month.
Looking at the less volatile three-month comparison, orders for the third quarter of 2026 were up by a total of 0.2 percent compared to the second quarter, with a rise of 0.1 percent for orders excluding large contracts. In August 2026, incoming orders dropped by 10.1 percent compared to July 2026, following a revision of initial figures (the preliminary value was -10.6 percent).
This positive momentum in order intake is largely attributed to a sharp increase in the automotive industry, which saw a growth of 10.5 percent month-on-month (seasonally and calendar-adjusted). This sector had previously experienced low performance in both order intake and production in the two months prior, partly due to factory breaks and production shifts. Furthermore, growth in mechanical engineering, which increased by 8.3 percent, contributed positively to the overall results, bolstered by a major contract for the manufacturing of engine-powered machinery and turbines. In contrast, incoming orders for other vehicle construction (including aircraft, ships, trains, and military vehicles)-a segment that had recently seen high volumes of major contracts-declined by 10.4 percent compared to the previous month.
Regarding specific industries, incoming orders for capital goods increased by 5.3 percent in September 2026, while orders for intermediate goods rose by 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, orders for consumer goods saw a significant jump of 14.4 percent compared to the previous month.
Internationally, orders increased by 2.8 percent in September 2026; contracts from the Eurozone grew by 4.5 percent, and orders from outside the Eurozone grew by 1.6 percent. Domestic orders rose by 6.6 percent.
Separately, real turnover in the manufacturing sector was 0.2 percent higher month-on-month in September 2026 (after seasonal and calendar adjustments). When compared to the same period last year (September 2025), turnover was 2.0 percent higher after calendar adjustment. For August 2026, the adjusted results showed an increase of 0.1 percent over July 2026 (the preliminary value was 0.0 percent).
