Real order intake for German industry decreased by 3.8 percent in April 2026 compared to March, adjusted seasonally and for calendar effects. According to announcements from the Federal Statistical Office on Monday, when major orders were excluded, the order intake was also 3.8 percent lower than in the previous month.
Looking at the less volatile three-month comparison, order intake between February and April 2026 fell by 3.1 percent compared to the preceding three months. However, excluding major orders, there was a 3.5 percent increase over the same period. In March 2026, following a revision of preliminary figures, order intake rose by 4.5 percent compared to February 2026 (the preliminary value had been +5.0 percent).
The negative trends in order intake for the manufacturing sector during April are attributable to sharp declines in new orders within the automotive industry (down 5.3 percent compared to the previous month, seasonally and calendar-adjusted) and in the production of electrical equipment (down 16.3 percent). A decline in order intake in the mechanical engineering sector (down 7.4 percent) also negatively influenced the overall results.
In terms of goods, order intake for intermediate goods was 2.9 percent lower in April 2026, while demand for capital goods fell by 4.4 percent compared to the previous month. Consumer goods saw the sharpest drop, falling by 6.7 percent.
Foreign orders declined by 4.2 percent in April, with orders from the Eurozone dropping by 11.1 percent, even as orders from outside the Eurozone increased by 0.8 percent. Domestic orders, meanwhile, decreased by 2.9 percent.
Separately, preliminary data indicated that real revenue in the manufacturing sector was 0.1 percent higher in April 2026 compared to March, adjusted seasonally and for calendar effects. Compared to April of the previous year 2025, revenue was 0.6 percent higher when adjusted for calendar effects. For March 2026, the revised figures showed a 1.2 percent increase over February 2026 (the initial preliminary value was +0.7 percent).
