Konjunktur: Maschinenbau rettet Halbjahr mit starken Exporten im Juni

Frankfurt, Germany - Strong June exports have bolstered the struggling German machinery industry and limited setbacks in the first half year, according to the VDMA industry association in Frankfurt. From January to June, machinery and equipment exports totaled 99.3 billion euros, the VDMA reported. This marked a nominal decline of 0.8 percent compared to the same period last year, with a price-adjusted decrease of 2.5 percent.

"Geopolitical tensions, the US tariff policy, and China's weak performance continue to weigh on German machinery exports in the first half year," said VDMA economic expert Anke Uhlig. However, a largely stable second quarter and a robust export increase of 6.8 percent in June helped dampen the half-year deficit. US tariff policy and the strong euro hindered export growth in the first half, but exports still grew by 0.5 percent to 13 billion euros in the first half thanks to stabilization in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, exports to China dropped by nearly 14 percent in the first half to around seven billion euros, while exports to the EU increased by 1.3 percent, boosted by key markets like France and the Netherlands.