The price‑adjusted output in Germany’s manufacturing sector fell by 1.9 % in December 2025 compared with November 2025, after seasonal and calendar‑day adjustments according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
Over the more stable three‑month period from October to December 2025, output grew by 0.9 % relative to the earlier quarter. In November, the revised figure showed a 0.2 % increase over October (the provisional number had been +0.8 %). By comparison, December 2025 was 0.6 % lower than the same month in 2024.
The month‑to‑month decline was largely driven by steep drops in key sectors: automotive manufacturing dropped 8.9 %, machine manufacturing fell 6.8 %, and maintenance and assembly of machinery slumped 17.6 %. Gains in other areas helped to offset these losses. Metal product output rose 3.2 %, and production of other vehicles-aircraft, ships, trains, and military vehicles-jumped 10.5 %. In construction, specialized building work and fit‑out grew 2.5 % and high‑rise construction rose 8.4 %, giving the sector an overall 3.0 % increase.
Industrial production (manufacturing excluding energy and construction) was down 3.0 % in December 2025 versus November 2025 after seasonal and calendar adjustments. Within this category, consumer goods rose 0.5 %, investment goods fell 5.3 %, and intermediate goods increased 1.2 %. Energy generation outside the industry fell 1.8 % over the same period. Year‑to‑year, industrial output was 0.2 % lower than December 2024.
In the energy‑intensive industries, output decreased 0.9 % in December 2025 relative to November 2025 when seasonally and calendar‑day adjusted. The three‑month measure for Oct‑Dec 2025 was 0.5 % lower than the previous quarter. Compared with December 2024, energy‑intensive production was 2.6 % lower on an annual basis.
For the full year 2025, manufacturing output was 1.1 % below the previous year after adjustment. Specifically, industry output fell 1.3 %, construction slipped 1.7 %, while energy generation actually grew 1.6 %. The decline in industry was largely attributable to automotive (-1.7 % y/y), machine manufacturing (-2.6 %), and the energy‑intensive sectors.
Energy‑intensive industries were 2.6 % lower than in 2024, following steep falls in 2022 and 2023. Compared to 2021, production in 2025 was 17.8 % lower, according to Destatis.