The real order intake in the German manufacturing sector rose by 0.9 percent in February 2026 compared to January, after adjusting for seasonality and calendar effects, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Wednesday. When excluding major orders, the order intake was 3.5 percent higher than the preceding month.
In a less volatile three-month comparison, the order intake for the period of December 2025 to February 2026 was 2.0 percent higher than the three months prior; excluding major orders, it fell by 0.8 percent over the same period. For January 2026, the order intake showed a 11.1 percent decrease compared to December 2025 following the revision of preliminary figures, confirming the initial preliminary result.
The positive trend in order intake in February 2026 was largely driven by a significant increase in the automotive industry (up 3.8 percent month-on-month, seasonally and calendar adjusted). Gains in the textile industry (up 45.2 percent) and in metal production and processing (up 3.7 percent) also positively affected the overall result. Conversely, a decline in other vehicle construction sectors, including aircraft, ships, trains, and military vehicles, contributed negatively (down 25.9 percent).
For investment goods, the order intake was 0.2 percent higher compared to the previous month, while for intermediate goods, it was 1.4 percent higher. The consumer goods sector saw an increase of 4.5 percent.
Foreign orders rose by 4.7 percent in February 2026. Orders from the eurozone increased by 6.7 percent, and orders from outside the eurozone rose by 3.5 percent. In contrast, domestic orders fell by 4.4 percent.
Regarding revenue, the real turnover in the manufacturing industry was 0.5 percent lower in February 2026 compared to the previous month, after adjusting for seasonality and calendar effects. Compared to February 2025, the revenue was 0.4 percent higher after adjusting for calendar effects. For January 2026, the adjusted figures showed a 0.7 percent increase compared to December 2025 (the preliminary figure was an increase of 1.5 percent).