Posts Tagged Exports
Mechanical engineering: falling exports in the first quarter
June 3rd, 2013 | Thema: News
The slow development of economic activity on world markets was also noticeable in the export statistics of the German mechanical engineering sector in the first quarter of 2013. According to current figures from the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau (VDMA, or German Engineering Federation), mechanical engineering exports fell in the first quarter by a nominal 5.8 per cent from 37.3 billion euros to 35.2 billion euros in comparison with the previous year. In the EU-27 countries, to which 40.2 per cent of exports go, German mechanical engineers posted a minus of 9.1 per cent. In China, which with a share of exports of eleven per cent is the most important market outside the EU, companies made 3.6 per cent fewer sales. After high growth US exports declined by 4.3 per cent in annual comparison. Mechanical engineering exports to the important markets of Brazil and India had a fall in double figures on the previous year’s values.
In the first quarter of 2013 mechanical engineers’ business went better with South East Asia (plus 5.3 per cent), Saudi Arabia (plus 9.2 per cent) and Turkey (plus 8.9 per cent). Exports to North African countries also achieved higher rates of increase again.
Euro crisis subdues exports and economic activity in 1st quarter
May 20th, 2013 | Thema: News
According to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) the German economy only grew by 0.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2013. In addition, the economy contracted more strongly in the final quarter of last year than previously assessed at 0.7 per cent. In the opinion of the DIW Berlin the export sector is primarily responsible: “The crisis in the eurozone and the weak world economy have burdened German economic growth more strongly and longer than expected,” said the DIW Germany expert Simon Junker. As a result companies had also held back investments. He added that economic development was primarily being supported by private consumption expenditure.
The DIW Berlin remains optimistic for 2013: the institute expects continuing positive impulses from abroad, primarily from emerging markets. In the course of the year this should cause companies to use the cheap financing conditions to invest in equipment. The DIW Berlin expects noticeable growth in economic output, primarily in the second half of the year.
Exports to non-EU increase by 4.2 per cent in 4th quarter
March 18th, 2013 | Thema: News
In the fourth quarter of 2012 German exports increased by 1.3 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year to 271.4 billion euros, as reported by the Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis, or Federal Statistics Office). While shipments to member states of the European Union (EU) fell by 0.8 per cent to 153.5 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2012, exports to countries outside the EU (third countries) rose by 4.2 per cent to 118.0 billion euros. Shipments to EU member states that do not belong to the eurozone also grew with a plus of 1.7 per cent to 52.4 billion euros. In contrast, exports to eurozone countries fell by 2.1 per cent to 101.1 billion euros.
The most important trading partner for shipments to countries outside the EU was once again the USA. In comparison to the same period in the previous year, exports to the United States rose by 9.0 per cent to 21.5 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2012. The development of shipments to the so-called “BRIC states” (Brazil, Russia, India and China) was – with one exception – negative: thus exports to China fell by 6.1 per cent to 15.7 billion euros in the fourth quarter of 2012. Exports to India declined by 13.8 per cent to 2.5 billion euros and shipments to Brazil of a total of 2.7 billion euros were 2.2 per cent lower than in the same quarter of the previous year. Merely exports to Russia posted growth of 6.6 per cent to 9.7 billion euros.
Volume of orders in Germany up again due to demand from abroad
February 11th, 2013 | Thema: News
In December 2012 the volume of orders booked for mechanical and plant engineering in Germany was up four per cent in real terms on the previous year’s figure. Domestic business rose by one per cent, export business was five per cent up on the previous year, according to the latest figures from the German Engineering Association (VDMA) gathered from its affiliated companies. According to the association, the overall figure for the three-month period from October to December 2012 less hit by short-term fluctuations is three per cent up on the previous year. Domestic orders were down one per cent, orders from abroad up four per cent. For the whole year (January to December 2012) there is an overall decrease of three per cent. Domestic orders were down eight per cent, orders from abroad stagnated.
Considering the industry as a whole, at the end of the year the trend in volumes of orders was upwards – albeit not as strong as in mechanical and plant engineering. According to provisional figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), volumes of orders in the industry in December 2012 were up 0.8 per cent on the previous month after price, calendar and seasonal adjustments. They had still been down 1.8 per cent in November. Whereas domestic demand decreased by 1.2 per cent, orders from abroad showed a clear increase of 2.4 per cent.
Weak economy in Europe lowers export prices
February 4th, 2013 | Thema: News
According to the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), the most recent sharp decline in German export prices is due to the recession in many European countries. The DIHK says there is extreme reticence to invest in many euro countries, making them hardly the ideal environment for price increases. Some companies have therefore granted price concessions, says DIHK foreign trade expert Ilja Nothnagel.
According to the latest surveys conducted by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), German exporters reduced their prices in December 2012 by 0.4 per cent on the previous month. That is the sharpest decrease in export prices for four years. Although world trade is slack at the moment, the DIHK is still expecting robust growth in exports this year.