VDMA Robotics and Automation
Sales forecast of minus 5 percent
According to the VDMA Robotics + Automation trade association, the robotics and automation industry in Germany expects sales to fall by 5% to EUR 14.1 billion in 2026. The main reasons for this are weak demand from key customer industries, geopolitical upheaval and continued unfavorable economic conditions.
Industry turnover in 2025 fell by 7%. With the recent decline, a trend is now continuing that is making structural weaknesses increasingly visible and further increasing the pressure on companies and politicians to act.
"The situation remains challenging. Our industry is simultaneously struggling with weak demand, geopolitical uncertainty and challenging location conditions," says Dr. Olaf Munkelt, Chairman of VDMA Robotics + Automation. "This makes it all the more important that we decisively strengthen our competitiveness - our levers here are customer focus, innovation and courage. At the same time, we need to pick up speed and become faster in implementation. The task of politicians is to significantly improve the framework conditions for entrepreneurial action now."
The trade association emphasizes that the current weakness is structural in nature and goes beyond cyclical effects. International competition, particularly from Asia, is continuing to expand its position and gain market share.
"The long-term growth drivers - digitalization, AI, smart production and automation - remain intact," emphasizes Munkelt. "We must now create the conditions for German and European robotics and automation to take a clear lead again. We need a rapid reduction in bureaucracy and competitive cost structures in order to return to a growth trajectory."
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