In the second quarter of 2017, order bookings in the German machine tool industry fell by 7% compared to the second quarter of 2016 (domestic orders were down by 27%, while export orders rose by 4%).

In the first half of 2017, total order bookings shrank by 1%, with domestic orders decreasing by 15%, while those from abroad were up by 6%. Forming technology performed better than metal-cutting machinery.

Wilfried Schäfer (pictured), executive director of VDW (the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) in Frankfurt, said: “With the mid-year figures, we’re well on course to achieving our expectations.

Export orders continued their up-trend, with the euro-zone nations still the principal drivers; their orders rose twice as steeply as orders from the rest of the world.

Following the substantial growth of last year, driven primarily by project business with the international automotive industry, the high level achieved is predicted to continue through 2017.

“Domestic demand, however, was a disappointment in the year’s first half. It remained weak, due not least to a base effect attributed to the high growth achieved during the first half of 2016.

That effect is now coming to an end, and we anticipate significantly better figures for the second half of 2017 — reflecting the optimistic mood in the business community, the rising cyclical indicators for Germany, and the macro-economic forecasts, which pundits have recently revised upwards.

“Moreover, we’re anticipating a huge boost from EMO Hannover 2017 — the world’s premier trade fair for the metal-working sector.”