Global sales of machines and systems increase in 2018

VDMA

Inka Krischke, 29.03.2019, 09:02

Global sales of machines and systems increase in 2018

Despite all the trade disputes and political squabbles, new machines and systems were also in demand worldwide last year: according to VDMA estimates, sales of machines rose by 4% to 2.6 trillion euros in 2018.

Dr. Ralph Wiechers, VDMA: "Despite a promising start, mechanical engineering is still struggling to get going in 2014."

VDMA Chief Economist Dr. Ralph Wiechers: "The growth in global machinery sales is pleasing, but could have been even higher in a calmer political environment. We will probably only really see the consequences of the trade disputes or Brexit [...] this year."

The mechanical engineering sector in Asia saw above-average growth: with an increase of 5% to just under EUR 1.34 trillion, Asia remained by far the largest manufacturing region in the mechanical engineering industry. According to the VDMA, slightly more than half of total global machinery sales were generated there. The pace of growth in Europe as a whole and in the EU countries as a whole was in line with the global average of plus 4%. Although the EU countries produced significantly fewer machines (€694 billion) than Asia, they produced just over twice as many as the USA (up 2% to €334 billion).

Germany has held its position as the world's third-largest producer of machinery since 2013. Last year, the sales volume reached 297 billion euros (up 4%). Germany therefore accounted for a good 11% of global machine sales. China was once again well ahead of the field. The country has held the title of the world's largest machine manufacturer since 2009, with total sales of 856 billion euros, an increase of 7% on the previous year in euro terms. Machine manufacturers in Japan (4th place) were also able to increase their turnover by 2% to 264 billion euros. Italy, number 5 in the global mechanical engineering sector, increased its turnover by 4% to 126 billion euros.

The top five countries in the ranking (China, USA, Germany, Japan, Italy) together account for 72% of global machinery sales.

Exchange rate fluctuations also had a significant impact on global sales figures in 2018. In 2018, the renminbi lost around 2% in value on average against the euro, almost 3% against the yen and just over 4% against the dollar. This means that the increase in sales in all three countries was higher in national currency than in the uniform euro perspective.

You might also be interested in

VDMA

Production peak for woodworking machines

The VDMA published the latest figures for woodworking machinery at the Ligna trade fair in Hanover. According to the figures, German manufacturers achieved a production record of 3.3 billion euros.

Hacking Engineering

VDMA and Fraunhofer ideas competition

Developing solutions for the challenges faced by industrial companies - this was the aim of eleven international teams in the VDMA and Fraunhofer pilot competition.

Mechanical and plant engineering

VDMA dampens expectations for 2019

At the VDMA's economic press conference, association president Carl Martin Welcker lowered the production forecast for the German mechanical and plant engineering industry. The reason for this is the smouldering trade disputes between the world's...

Robotics and automation

VDMA expects further growth in 2019

German robotics and automation reached the €15 billion mark in industry sales for the first time in 2018 - an increase of 4%. Despite uncertainties, the VDMA expects further growth in 2019.

Production in mechanical engineering

Growth well below the VDMA's expectations

According to preliminary calculations by the Federal Statistical Office, production in the mechanical engineering sector in Germany rose by 2% in 2018. This fell well short of the VDMA's forecast of 5% growth.

German mechanical engineering

Robust in 2018 - uncertainty with a view to 2019

"The forecast production growth in the German mechanical engineering sector of 5% to a record EUR 228 billion in 2018 is ambitious, but achievable," said Carl Martin Welcker, President of the VDMA, at the association's annual press conference in...

Software update with OPC UA

Manage and secure assets

In today's fast-paced industrial environment, it is essential that production processes run smoothly and efficiently. However, one critical aspect that is often overlooked is the importance of PLC backup and restore procedures.

Delta Logic

Update brings support for TIA V19

Delta Logic has updated the 'Accon OPC UA Server' software to version 1.4.0.0. The new features include support for TIA Portal projects of version V19 and for the latest firmware for CPUs of the Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 controllers.