MONTHLY DATAMonthly Data Watch (Germany): October 2026 issue
Figures through September 2026 (as published on October 23, 2026). We show only the latest values, month-on-month and year-on-year changes and 24-month charts, taken from the publishers' own releases. Series descriptions and quarterly figures are on the Germany page.
| Series | Latest month | Value | Month on month | Year on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine tool orders (Destatis order index) Order index (total) | August 2026 Preliminary | 104.2 index (2021=100) | +6.2% | +23.0% |
| Machine tool production (Destatis production index) Production index | August 2026 Preliminary | 78.3 index (2021=100) | −0.1% | +2.5% |
| Machine tool exports (Eurostat) Total exports | July 2026 Published | 595 € million/month | +2.1% | +5.0% |
| Machine tool imports (Eurostat) Total imports | July 2026 Published | 159 € million/month | −12.5% | −21.3% |
| Producer prices of cutting tools and machine tools (Destatis) Cutting tools | September 2026 Final | 132.8 index (2021=100) | +1.0% | +13.0% |
1. Machine tool orders (Destatis order index)August 2026 (preliminary)
An index of the value of orders received by Germany's manufacturers of metalworking machine tools (WZ 2008 28.41 = NACE C28.41, covering both metal-cutting and metal-forming) (nominal value index, 2021 = 100, original series without seasonal adjustment). Total, with a breakdown into domestic and foreign orders. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
Order index (total)
104.2index (2021=100)
Month on month +6.2%Year on year +23.0%
Domestic
81.2index (2021=100)
Month on month −17.1%Year on year +19.1%
Foreign
117.6index (2021=100)
Month on month +19.8%Year on year +24.8%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (released early in the second month after, e.g. August figures in early October; the latest month is provisional and may be revised until the year is finalized).
Sources by month (1)
- September 2024 – August 2026 (final, preliminary): Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), “Auftragseingang im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe (Wertindex)”, GENESIS-Online table 42151-0002 (Datenlizenz Deutschland – Namensnennung – 2.0)
For details, see History of German machine tools (NC, mechatronics and Industry 4.0).
2. Machine tool production (Destatis production index)August 2026 (preliminary)
Production index for Germany's manufacturers of metalworking machine tools (WZ 2008 28.41 = NACE C28.41) (a volume index, not a value; 2021 = 100; original series without seasonal adjustment). Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
Production index
78.3index (2021=100)
Month on month −0.1%Year on year +2.5%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through August 2026 (released early in the second month after, in the same week as orders; the latest month is provisional and may be revised until the year is finalized).
Sources by month (1)
- September 2024 – August 2026 (final, preliminary): Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), “Produktionsindex für das Verarbeitende Gewerbe”, GENESIS-Online table 42153-0002 (Datenlizenz Deutschland – Namensnennung – 2.0)
For details, see History of German machine tools (NC, mechatronics and Industry 4.0).
3. Machine tool exports (Eurostat)July 2026 (published)
Value of machine tool exports from Germany to the world: machine tools that remove metal and other materials (HS 8456–8461) and forming machines (HS 8462–8463). Includes exports to other EU countries. Not seasonally adjusted. These are EU-basis trade statistics (Comext) and differ slightly from Destatis's national-basis figures. Source: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat, Comext)
Total exports
595€ million/month
Month on month +2.1%Year on year +5.0%
Metal-removal machine tools (HS 8456–8461)
442€ million/month
Month on month −6.1%Year on year +1.6%
Forming machines (HS 8462–8463)
153€ million/month
Month on month +36.3%Year on year +16.4%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through July 2026 (they appear in Eurostat Comext in the middle of the month 2–3 months later; the current year's figures are provisional and may be revised into the following year, with no distinction between preliminary and final figures).
Sources by month (1)
- August 2024 – July 2026 (published): Eurostat, “EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8” (Comext DS-045409, CC BY 4.0)
For details, see History of German machine tools (NC, mechatronics and Industry 4.0).
4. Machine tool imports (Eurostat)July 2026 (published)
Value of machine tool imports into Germany from the world: machine tools that remove metal and other materials (HS 8456–8461) and forming machines (HS 8462–8463). Includes imports from other EU countries. Not seasonally adjusted. EU-basis trade statistics (Comext). Source: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat, Comext)
Total imports
159€ million/month
Month on month −12.5%Year on year −21.3%
Metal-removal machine tools (HS 8456–8461)
132€ million/month
Month on month −9.7%Year on year −23.9%
Forming machines (HS 8462–8463)
27€ million/month
Month on month −24.3%Year on year −5.1%
As of this issue, figures have been published only through July 2026 (they appear in Eurostat Comext in the middle of the month 2–3 months later; the current year's figures are provisional and may be revised into the following year, with no distinction between preliminary and final figures).
Sources by month (1)
- August 2024 – July 2026 (published): Eurostat, “EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8” (Comext DS-045409, CC BY 4.0)
5. Producer prices of cutting tools and machine tools (Destatis)September 2026 (final)
From Germany's producer price index (domestic sales, GP 2019 product classification): cutting tools (the special item Zerspanwerkzeuge under GP 25.73.4) and metalworking machine tools and their parts (GP 28.41). 2021 = 100, not seasonally adjusted. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis)
Cutting tools
132.8index (2021=100)
Month on month +1.0%Year on year +13.0%
Metalworking machine tools (incl. parts)
121.7index (2021=100)
Month on month +0.1%Year on year +2.2%
Cutting tools in September 2026 were at their highest value in the last 24 months.
Sources by month (1)
For details, see Tungsten price surge and carbide tools (market prices, export controls, China's share).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are German machine tool orders available as a value?
- No monthly statistic gives a value, so we use the Destatis order index (2021=100, a nominal value index). For August 2026 it was 104.2 (preliminary), +23.0% year on year. The industry association VDW publishes orders only as quarterly year-on-year changes.
- How does the order index differ from the production index?
- Both are 2021=100 indices (not seasonally adjusted) for the manufacture of metalworking machine tools (WZ 28.41), but the order index is based on the value of orders received, while the production index measures volume, not value. Read them by month-on-month and year-on-year change rather than by level.
- Do German machine tool exports include parts?
- No. The figure is the sum of metal-removal machine tools (HS 8456–8461) and forming machines (HS 8462–8463), excluding parts and accessories (HS 8466). It comes from Eurostat Comext, includes intra-EU exports, and differs slightly from Destatis national-concept figures.
- When are the German figures released?
- The order and production indices are complete early in the second month after, the producer price index around the 20th of the following month, and export and import values in the middle of the month 2–3 months later. The latest months are provisional and may be revised.