Global markets - vdma.org
Global markets
Keeping an eye on the latest trends in market access, market entry and market development
The world is changing fast - what was good practice yesterday may not be good practice tomorrow. The VDMA helps its members to keep track of the latest developments in global markets, customs, export financing, export controls and trade policy.
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Digital, secure, and efficient. The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace passport stamping.
Argentina stabilizes in 2025 - Brazil benefits from this, with Brazilian cars and machinery in particular in demand. At the same time, uncertainty in trade with the USA is growing.
On the initiative of the VDMA Forum Process Technology, several water trade fairs have once again made it into the German government's foreign trade fair program in 2026. The destinations are pure treasures.
The trade fair year 2026 calls solution providers from the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors to Mumbai, Beijing, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, among others. Private sector booths will add extras in Rio and the home market Hamburg.
The agreement in the customs dispute creates planning security in the short term and averts an incalculable trade war. However, the agreement also reflects the balance of power. The EU must therefore now consistently strengthen its competitiveness.
With the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Donald Trump has reached his most important goal in Congress. The sweeping tax reforms carry significant implications for VDMA member companies.
VDMA America recently held their first Executive Roundtable at GEDA USA in League City, Texas, providing the American leadership of our members’ subsidiaries a valuable opportunity to network and exchange insights on key topics impacting our industry
The VDMA urges the U.S. and EU to reach an agreement that ensures the certainty European machinery manufacturers need to operate in the U.S.
The OECD Consensus on Export Credits was modernized in 2023 to strengthen opportunities in global competition. However, implementation of the reform is slow. According to an analysis by the US Exim Bank, China is ahead in terms of new commitments in 2024.
A politically motivated ban on exports of rare earths from China is not compatible with a trusting trade relationship. The EU must show strength towards China and take action.
On July 18, 2025, the EU published its 18th sanctions package, which also includes measures against Belarus. It includes two amending regulations. Some of the tougher sanctions are also relevant for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
On July 18, 2025, the EU published its 18th sanctions package against Russia. The measures (2 amending regulations) all come into force on 19.07.2025. Some of the tightened sanctions are also relevant for the mechanical and plant engineering industry.
10.1 percent of the total value-added of the machinery industry in Germany gets finally tied up in automobiles. Around 103,000 of the 1.02 million jobs in the machinery industry in Germany hence depend on the global demand for automobiles.
The first round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the UAE took place in June 2025. VDMA hopes that this will result in an agreement to abolish localization requirements, amongst other things.
The business outlook in the mechanical engineering sector remains virtually unchanged, while the mood among companies remains tense. There are significant differences between the sales regions.
Global machine turnover is expected to grow by one percent in price-adjusted terms in 2025 compared to the previous year, with significant differences in regional dynamics.
Good news for European companies: the EU's free trade agreement with Indonesia is an important success for more rules-based trade worldwide.
US punitive tariffs of 30 percent would be damaging for all parties involved, for the EU and the USA. Investments and reindustrialization would be slowed down.
The EU finance ministers have decided that Bulgaria will officially join the eurozone on January 1, 2026.
Incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector fell by 9.1 % in April. - First decline in three months, the impact of the Trump administration's tariff policy still unclear.
The new Trump tariffs are not only raising costs for the machinery sector, but creating confusion and uncertainty among manufacturers that export to the United States.
How can statistical reporting obligations be reduced? Digital services can help you. A free webinar by the Saxon State Statistical Office in cooperation with the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce presents the e.CORE reporting procedure.
Incoming orders in May were a positive surprise - albeit on a weak prior-year basis. Overall, companies have recorded a small increase in orders so far this year, but global uncertainty remains high.
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which was officially agreed at the beginning of 2025, is a joint project between Singapore and Malaysia with the aim of exploiting economic synergies between the two countries.
This overview aims to support awareness, planning, and participation in relevant trade fairs and exhibitions across the VDMA subsectors and groups.
In China and the US, machinery and equipment manufacturing has been growing for several months. In most EU countries, fewer machinery and equipment products are being produced than a year ago.
China's subsidies and disregard for standards are distorting competition. Mechanical engineering in Europe needs better location conditions and fair competition.
In our quarterly report, we provide you with information on India's macroeconomic development, as well as detailed information on the manufacturing industry and individual sectors with a particular focus on machinery and equipment.
The manufacturer of strapping and end-of-line packaging technology, expands global footprint one strap at a time with grand opening of second facility in Malaysia
VDMA America hosts its first member-exclusive Executive Roundtable in the United States on Wednesday, July 16, in the Houston area.
Canada wants to expand its economic partnerships - an opportunity for Europe. It is crucial that the CETA free trade agreement is finally implemented in full.
If export goods are not delivered, there is a risk of high losses - especially for custom-made products. Hermes Cover protects against losses due to sanctions or geopolitical conflicts, among other things.
From the VDMA's perspective, visa policy and technical interfaces are among the top issues for German-Brazilian cooperation in mechanical engineering. The German-Brazilian Business Days provide an opportunity for exchange.
Chinese companies often enjoy competition-distorting advantages and subsidies. In a new position paper, the VDMA makes demands on German and European politicians to counteract these disadvantages.
29 mandatory standards/Amendments and 297 voluntary standards/Amendments were approved in the past two months.
A series of mandatory standard drafts are released for comments.
2025 Chinese Legislative Work Plan was released. The Product Quality Law was not listed.
The Chinese Administrative Measures for the Adoption of International Standards has been revised to promote the adoption of international standards.
The first humanoid robot certification in China is underway.
The new Chinese export controls on rare earths and some products made from them are increasingly becoming a massive problem. China cannot keep up with issuing the export licenses that are now required.
We always report on changes to major embargoes or embargo changes with significant relevance for mechanical and plant engineering at short notice. Here is an overview of less relevant embargo changes since January 2025.
The tabular VDMA overview "Country-related embargoes" makes it easy to find out which countries are currently subject to EU embargo measures and what the current status of the embargo texts is.
Incoming orders for machine tools from China rose by 27.9% (YoY) to 34 billion yen in April, marking the 13th consecutive month of growth. The lively investment activity of local manufacturers continues.
Incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector fell by 6% in real terms in April compared to the previous year. An expected setback, given the uncertainty caused by US tariff policy.
The global business situation in the mechanical engineering sector remains mixed. While India and Brazil are impressing with good figures, China is struggling with structural challenges. The USA is characterized by the latest tariff policy.
With effect from May 29, 2025, the EU has largely, but not completely, lifted its sanctions against Syria. This is in response to the change in US policy towards Syria announced by President Trump in Saudi Arabia.
The obligation to comply with energy efficiency standards for newly established data centers is being discussed.
This article provides an overview of the wide range of support available to German companies wishing to enter the African market. The overview is updated regularly, but does not claim to be exhaustive.
How well do you know the VDMA statistics database? And how often do you use it? Join us on a half-hour tour and get to know our wide range of data.
Letters of credit or advance payment are not very attractive in a competitive environment. Credit insurance for payment terms is an alternative. These are also an entry into export financing.
As a continent rich in raw materials with around 65 percent of the world's arable land and a very young population by global standards, Africa offers enormous business and growth potential for local industry.
If you want to leverage real future potential for agribusiness, especially for agricultural technology, you can no longer ignore South America.
Strong participation and new priorities/Mega event with over 6,000 participants.
With an update every two months, which is exclusively available for download to VDMA member companies, we provide you with up-to-date information on German exports of water and wastewater technology.
5th Management Meeting for Construction Equipment and Building Material Plant Engineering hosted by Liebherr in Singapore. Market has recently grown significantly, but Chinese dominance is unbroken.
Market information forms the basis for many business decisions. With directly collected data and a wealth of secondary information, the Valves Association offers comprehensive know-how on industry and market developments.
VDMA organizes delegation trip on the occasion of Philconstruct in Manila in November 2025. Philippine construction industry benefits from infrastructure programs and expects strong growth.
For the guidance of member companies, the specialist department for water and wastewater technology has compiled a data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with the USA and with key data on the water sector in the USA.
On 4 June 2025, Haver & Boecker Latinoamericana in São Paulo hosted the Brazil Management Meeting of the Construction-Equipment and Plant Engineering and Mining & Minerals Trade Associations organized by VDMA Brazil.
The Chinese ban on the supply of rare earths is causing unrest. VDMA President Bertram Kawlath explains why SMEs are particularly affected in the ZEIT business podcast.
On 17 June 2025, the meeting of the Steering Committee Asia took place at Wirtgen GmbH in Windhagen and was a major networking event. Various important topics were discussed.
The 6th edition of the VDMA Technology Guide Oil Gas Petrochemicals with focus on Net-Zero Solutions for energy-intensive Industries. Are you among the Who's Who of European process technology suppliers?
Europe's construction industry is recovering - thanks to stable prices, better financing and EU funding. Residential construction will be the most important driver in future, with significant growth. In Germany, however, this will not become a reality until 2027 at the earliest.
Here you will find an updated overview of the progress of the project after the third face-to-face meeting on 12.03.202 (update no. 4).
On May 29, 2025, more than 50 industry experts met at the VDMA China Management Meeting at ebm-papst in Shanghai to exchange views on current topics such as intelligent manufacturing and export controls.
For the guidance of member companies, the specialist department for water and wastewater technology has compiled a data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with India and with key data on India's water sector.
A new industry expert from the Africa Business Network in Côte d'Ivoire has been identifying specific business opportunities for German providers of environmental technologies since November 2024. One focus is on projects in the water sector.
The publication provides an overview of CECE's activities. It shows the topics with which the CECE is involved at European and international level.
US tariffs harm trade worldwide
Current activities in the agricultural context
Current forecasts, key figures and background information on agricultural framework conditions, business and market development - worldwide, in Europe and in Germany.
International Financial Institutions (IFIs) finance numerous projects in developing and emerging countries worldwide.
Saudi Arabia is currently 20-30 percent self-sufficient in food. The country is only self-sufficient in some vegetables.
For two days, experts gathered in Würzburg for the Building Materials Plant Summit to discuss markets, technologies, and climate goals. Both research and industry agree that change is possible—and necessary.
Companies can register for the German Pavilion at Excon in Bangalore until August 9. India's largest trade fair will take place for the 12th time in December. India is the world's most dynamic market.
Despite a recovery at the start of the year, the outlook for China remains worrying. Electrification is driven forward on a big scale. VDMA met at Herrenknecht's impressive TBM plant in Guangzhou.
An industry expert of the Business Network Africa in Egypt identifies concrete business opportunities for German suppliers in the water industry.
For the orientation of VDMA member companies, the German Engineering Federation has created a new data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with Brazil.
VDMA Mining & Minerals is the sponsor of the trip to Angola from 18 to 22 August 2025 for German companies and multipliers from the mining and raw materials sectors.
At 10.3 per cent of German export market share, Guinea recorded the highest increase in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
The VDMA informs its members twice a year about the development of the chemical industry in Brazil, China, France, Turkey, the USA and the United Kingdom.
The first quarter of 2025 resulted in an overall increase in orders of 4% - the first positive quarterly balance of orders in three years. March also closed with a pleasing increase in orders of 4%.
Start of successful association networking. Despite difficult circumstances, bauma 2025 attracts its first visitors from Ukraine - in search of strong German partners in mechanical engineering.
The calls for tenders for a 3rd tranche 2025 in the BMWK market development program have been published online on the website of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).
What challenges do machine manufacturers face when exporting to Asia - and how does the VDMA provide support?
From 23 to 28 March 2025, the AHK Southern Africa organized a business initiation trip to South Africa on behalf of the BMWK and in cooperation with the VDMA Textile Machinery Association and SBS systems for business solutions GmbH.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan still have many good projects up their sleeves. Kazakhstan plans to expand its role in the global production of rare metals and earths.
Beyond the political noise, USA remains the largest market for German machinery export.
This year, Germany will once again be represented with a joint booth at the two glass industry trade fairs in Mumbai.
The economic outlook for the region remains good, although it appears that sales of mining equipment declined in 2024 compared to 2023.
The VDMA Mining & Minerals delegation to China in March 2025 began its trip with a visit to the JINGANG Group in Jinan.
Increasing trade barriers, sanctions and isolation - anyone wanting to do business internationally these days is confronted with high hurdles and conditions in many places.
What impact will tariff decisions have on transatlantic relations or the global agricultural machinery trade? And how will the EU's change of course away from the Green Deal affect our industry?
Business relationships with South Africa are already well established among many VDMA members.
The VDMA supports ways to make sustainable use of market opportunities in Ukraine and for Ukraine.
"Poland is a real dairy country. More than six million cattle are currently kept between the Carpathian Mountains and the Baltic Sea".
In Central Asia and the South Caucasus, construction is booming thanks to government investment. At the same time, Ukraine needs more than 500 billion euros for reconstruction over the next 10 years - an enormous potential for mechanical engineering.
Last year, agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers in Germany recorded a noticeable double-digit decline in sales.
Manufacturers of industrial valves are facing new challenges in 2025. So far, foreign business has provided positive impetus, but now empty order books and uncertain forecasts are dampening the mood.
Turnover in the building valves industry will stagnate in 2024, and foreign business will also remain weak. A slight recovery is expected in 2025. But above all, the industry needs better location conditions.
Events
Since last week, there have been various inquiries about the 18th package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus. These included matters that required clarification at short notice.
Find out in our web event how you can benefit from state export credit guarantees and use the instruments of foreign trade promotion for your projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
Join South America’s Largest Solar Event which will take place from August 26-28, 2025 in São Paulo.
For the third time, glass manufacturers, glass processors and glass machinery manufacturers can enter into a direct exchange on the requirements of local production for the domestic and global market for glass products.
The September edition of Connect2Discover@VDMA, delves into the VDMA's strategic realignment regarding its position on China.Besides that you get an overview
As part of a business initiation trip sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), 18 member companies of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association will be presenting their pioneering and sustainable technologies along the entire value chain of the Egyptian textile and nonwovens industry.
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