19.02.2021

Double-digit drop in exports in the Corona crisis year

The global Corona crisis has also led to high export losses for machinery and plant manufacturers. In 2020, machinery and equipment worth 160 billion euros was exported from Germany - 12 percent less than in the previous year.

The global Corona crisis has also led to high export losses for machinery and plant manufacturers. In 2020, machinery and equipment worth 160 billion euros were exported from Germany and imported machinery and equipment in the amount 67 billion euros. Exports were thus 12.0 percent and imports 13.4 percent lower than in 2019, according to preliminary figures released by the Federal Statistical Office. "Machinery exporters from Germany thus recorded the highest year-on-year declines since the financial and economic crisis in 2009," said VDMA chief economist Dr Ralph Wiechers.

Strongest decline in exports in the second quarter

A look at the quarterly figures for 2020 shows the chronological course of the crisis year: machinery exports still recorded a comparatively moderate year-on-year decline of 5.1 percent in the first quarter. In the second quarter, 22 percent less machinery and equipment was then exported before a gradual improvement began: The third and fourth quarters saw smaller declines of12.4 percent, and 8.2 percent, respectively.

"The second quarter of 2020 was the height of the Corona crisis for machinery and equipment manufacturers. Many companies faced unexpectedly severe outages on the supply and demand side. Supply chains were temporarily disrupted, and customers postponed or even cancelled orders at short notice. However, the developments in the last few months of 2020 are encouraging: the export year 2021 will be better and bring growth, even if the pre-crisis level will not yet be achieved" Wiechers explained.

Head-to-head race between the US and Chinese sales markets

Between January and December, exports to the United States, the number one destination for machinery exporters from Germany, fell by 9.3 percent to 18.2 billion euros. This means that the USA accounts for 11.4 percent of total machinery exports. To China, the second largest foreign market with a share of 11.3 percent, machinery and equipment exports from Germany decreased by 3.6 percent to 18.1 billion Euros in the same period.

"Germany's lead as the world's largest exporter of machinery and equipment is likely lost."

"The economic recovery in China already started in the second quarter of 2020 and the companies felt the positive momentum a little bit later in their order books" said the VDMA chief economist. "Machinery exports from Germany to the People's Republic already increased by 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 and are entering the new year with momentum. However, the strength of the Chinese economy is not only making itself felt in German exports to the country. According to figures from China Customs, exports of machinery from China totaled 165 billion euros. Admittedly, revisions are still pending, however, Germany's lead as the world's largest exporter of machinery and equipment is probably lost," Wiechers added.

Poland among the top 5 sales markets for machinery and equipment
Exports to EU countries (68 billion euros) last year were 15.2 percent below the previous year's level, a worse result than overall exports. The EU countries took a total of 42.5 percent of all machinery exports from Germany. To France, the number three in the export ranking, the companies supplied machinery and equipment worth 10.6 billion euros (minus 15.2 percent). In the export business with Italy, the mechanical engineering companies recorded a minus of 18.1 percent to 6.8 billion euros. Poland, which has now climbed to fifth place in the ranking, took in machinery and equipment worth 6.8 billion euros (down 9.9 per cent) from Germany, overtaking both the Netherlands (6.8 billion euros, down 11.2 per cent) and the UK (6.0 billion euros, down 20.5 per cent). The United Kingdom dropped two places to eighth place due to the hard lockdown, but mainly as a result of the Brexit.

Heterogeneous export development in mechanical engineering sectors

Not all sub-sectors were equally affected by the double-digit decline in exports. Machine tool manufacturers recorded a sharp drop of 29.4 percent. In contrast, agricultural machinery increased exports to the world by 1 percent compared to 2019.

A photo of VDMA chief economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers can be found here.
A video with VDMA Chief Economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers on the export statistics 2020 can be found on our homepage.