According to the VDMA Association, Germany's machinery exports reached 5.34 billion euros in 2017, an increase of 7.7% compared with 2016.
The United States is its largest export market. The annual growth rate of exports to the United States is 10.1%, close to 850 million euros. China is closely followed by German manufacturing equipment worth 771 million euros, up 14.3% year-on-year.
According to the VDMA Association, China is generally the 'most important overall market' because German manufacturers have produced another 500 million euros of machinery in their Chinese factories, which are mainly used to meet local market demand.
Italy jumped from sixth place to fourth place, and its export sales to the country increased by 32.1%, and the amount of machinery goods delivered reached 250 million euros. The VDMA Association said that the 'Industry 4.0' that the Italian government is concerned with is reflected in the purchase.
The negative trend in Russia also reversed in 2017, with the growth rate of machinery orders from Germany to the country reaching 34.1%.
However, according to VDMA data, this high growth rate mainly comes from the 'stimulus' of the Russian packaging industry, and does not reflect the recovery of the national market. A total of 114 million euros of German plastics and rubber machinery exports to Russia.
The VDMA Association also pointed out that in Brazil, 'the longest-lasting, most influential recession has ended'. However, the VDMA Association said that although the total export volume to Brazil has increased by 35.4%, the total value reached 75 million euros, the Brazilian market It still takes more time to fully recover. The association pointed out: 'For example, investment is only slowly picking up, mainly because there is a lot of uncertainty in the market before the presidential election this year.'
According to a large number of orders in 2018, VDMA expects that the export volume of the German plastic machinery industry will increase by 3% this year.
Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director of VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery, warned: 'However, this should not obscure the fact that the economic environment has begun to change.'
He pointed out: 'We are currently in a particularly prosperous phase, which is beyond its usual length. Therefore, the delivery time of machinery manufacturers and suppliers is very long.'
In addition, Kühmann warned that many companies are currently facing 'big problems' in finding qualified technical personnel.