"We expect moderate growth in the German electrical industryin 2016," said Dr. Kegel on 26 April at the Hannover Messe 2016, emphasizing the role of automation: "28% of total sales in 2015 - which amounted to EUR 179 billion - was generated by automation companies." Kegel therefore has a positive outlook for automation in 2016: "We are optimistic about two to three percent sales growth." After a rather hesitant start to 2016, the month of February would have confirmed this positive trend in automation.

Automation turnover in Germany grew by 5.4% to €49.3 billion in 2015 compared to the previous year. However, according to Kegel, this figure was positively influenced by exchange rate fluctuations between the euro and US dollar as well as higher export prices for automation goods. "In the books, we have 5.4% more turnover compared to 2014, but this is not necessarily reflected in the number of units sold," said the ZVEI CEO.

Summarizing for automation in Germany, Kegel reported that incoming orders grew by 6.4 percentage points last year compared to 2014. At EUR 35.8 billion, exports once again set a record (2014: EUR 35 billion). The development of exports varied from region to region: China was once again the strongest export market outside Europe in 2015, although exports to the People's Republic fell by 2.2% compared to the previous year. In contrast, the EU28 again recorded growth of 2.8%. It accounts for 46% of total exports. Exports to the rest of Southeast Asia grew the most, increasing by 10.1% compared to the previous year.

Regarding imports of automation technology: Germany imported automation products worth 20.7 billion euros in 2015. "This corresponds to an impressive increase of 8.8% compared to the same period in the previous year," says Kegel. A stable 52% of imports to Germany came from EU28 countries, with a growth rate of 4.5%. Imports from the rest of Europe increased by 7.7% in 2015. Imports from China were 20.6% higher than in 2014. The biggest change compared to 2014 was in imports from the USA, which increased by 24.2%.

The number of employees in the automation industry rose by a good 2%: from over 256,500 to around 261,600.

Figures on measurement technology & process automation

"We are also cautiously optimistic about the new year for measurement technology and process automation companies - despite the slow start," says Stephan Neuburger, Deputy Chairman of the Measurement Technology and Process Automation Division of the ZVEI Automation Association. "Last year, we were talking about an increase in sales of two to three%. We more than achieved this with an increase in turnover of 8.5%." However, this increase in turnover was heavily influenced by exchange rates and benefited from the weak euro. "In local currencies, this results in a total of around 3%," says Neuburger.

Neuburger cited oil and gas prices, for example, as reasons for the ZVEI's cautious optimism. Due to their low level, they are preventing investments in this area of the process industry worldwide. In addition, economic growth in China has slowed down: German exports fell by 0.9% in 2015. Furthermore: " The Russia-Ukraine conflict is still casting its shadow: Exports fell by 21.2% in 2015". The only bright spot among the BRIC countries was India: Exports to India increased by 17.6 %.