Development of the Machine Tool Industry

The worldwide market for machine tools is developing positively in 2011. In the latest forecast (as at October 2011), the economic associations, VDW (German Machine Tool Builders‘ Association) and Oxford Economics, are expecting growth in worldwide machine tool consumption for 2011 of 16.9% to € 52.6 billion (forecast April 2011: 19.6%).

The German machine tool market has been exhibiting dynamic growth since the start of the year. Over the course of the third quarter, order intake at German machine tool producers continued to grow. In particular, there was a rise in orders from China and the USA. The rate of growth is expected to slow down in the coming months of the financial year due to the high level that has been reached. For the whole year, the vdw is expecting an increase in consumption of 37.4%.

The ifo business climate index for trade and industry fell during the third quarter. Companies in the main consumer sectors for machine tools rate their current business situation as being less favourable than at the start of the year.


Source: VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association)

chart: IFO business climate – balance from the percentage of positive and negative company reports