Global markets - vdma.eu
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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The EU's free trade agreement with India sends out a very important signal in favor of rules-based trade and against the law of the jungle. The elimination of customs duties and technical barriers to trade provides an urgently needed boost to competition.
HANNOVER MESSE's interactive formats can be used specifically to generate more qualified leads, increase visibility before and during the trade fair and enter into direct dialog with relevant target groups.
As global supply chains shift, ASEAN’s strategic importance grows. This publication offers data-driven insights, manufacturing trends, and member experiences shaping growth in Southeast Asia, in collaboration with GTAI and EDB.
ASEAN’s manufacturing sector finished 2025 on a high, recording its strongest quarter in four years. While growth moderated slightly, resilient demand, rising hiring and improved confidence point to solid momentum entering 2026.
This overview is intended to support the announcement, planning and participation in relevant trade fairs and exhibitions in the sub-sectors and groups of the VDMA.
VDMA President Bertram Kawlath visited Brazil. Talks on the EU-Mercosur agreement, company visits and institutional dialog strengthened the strategic partnership.
At the central stand, experts from foreign trade, the drive technology, fluid technology and electrical automation associations and the Manufacturing-X forum look forward to exchanging ideas with visitors and exhibitors.
The European Parliament's Mercosur decision is completely incomprehensible and complicates the process considerably. Small and medium-sized industrial companies urgently need EU free trade agreements that also come into force.
External shocks and home-grown problems are weakening the country's competitiveness.
Are you planning a visit to the Hannover Messe? Then we have good news for you: As a special service, the VDMA is providing you with free admission tickets - exclusively for our members and partners.
Contrary to online reports, the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) has not issued new guidelines for calculating the metal value in machinery products. Until new guidelines are published, the VDMA is sticking to its previous methodology.
VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann on the signing of the Mercosur trade agreement by the EU.
The time for reform debates is over - politicians must act now! Germany's industrial SMEs urgently need relief. And the EU must strengthen the internal market. Populist slogans for 'Europe first' do not help.
Japanese government announced a new tax reform 2026 for productivity-enhancing fixed asset investment.
Machinery orders rise by 7.0% in October, marking the second consecutive monthly increase. Several large orders for rail vehicles contributed to this growth.
New orders for industrial machinery and equipment in October show an increase of 9.7%, with domestic demand growing by 6.2% and foreign demand by 18.1% compared to the previous year.
According to the Bank of Japan's December business climate survey, the business climate index (DI: Diffusion Index) for large manufacturing companies improved by one point to 15 compared to the September survey.
After Mercosur, the conclusion of a trade agreement with India must now be at the top of the agenda. The aim is to dismantle customs duties and technical barriers to trade that noticeably hinder trade.
The EU-Commission's proposal to combat overcapacity in the steel sector has been presented. In the view of the VDMA, this proposal must also involve European steel consumers, who must not be burdened with additional costs and more bureaucracy.
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 US border authorities are planning extensive changes to the ESTA application, which could make business trips to the USA much more complicated in future. The focus is on new requirements such as mandatory social media disclosures and extended data collection.
Saudi Arabia increases customs duties and introduces new tariff lines.
The agreement brings a gradual reduction in customs duties and complex rules of origin. Market access and first-mover advantage characterize the strategic orientation.
VDMA supports companies in opening up international markets by participating in trade fairs, among other things. In addition to its own trade fair stands in Germany, it offers companies the opportunity to exhibit at group stand (German Pavilions).
As part of the VDMA event series "The Dragon in the Room", representatives from member companies met in Berlin at the beginning of December to discuss how to deal with China and the resulting strategic activities.
The Council must now deliver and ratify the Mercosur trade agreement. After years of negotiations, a clear commitment to free trade and reliable partnerships is needed.
In October, part of the VDMA team traveled to South Africa for a market visit. The aim of the trip was to visit local members and further expand the mechanical engineering network in one of the most dynamic economic regions in Africa.
The Indian government has postponed the introduction of various BIS certification requirements for certain product categories. Among other, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), which is responsible for mechanical engineering, has postponed the implementation of certain certification requirements.
The UK is no longer a member of the EU, which means that the EU's export controls for third countries apply here. Although they are rarely a problem, formal restrictions and procedures must still be complied with.
There are also EU export controls for business with the USA. Although they are rarely a problem, formal restrictions and procedures must still be observed.
Read the latest Industry News from India.
News from Textile Industry in India
News from Indian Port and Shipping Sector
News from Indian Food and Beverage Sector
News on Infrastructure Sector from India
News from Indian Power Sector
The EU has postponed the introduction of the deforestation regulation for another year.
News from Automobile and Auto Component Industry in India
In recent years, India's economic development has been characterized by strong momentum, structural change and growing importance on the world stage, including rising employment and expanding private consumption.
The mechanical engineering industry wants to maintain production in Germany and Europe. However, better location conditions are urgently needed to prevent research, production and therefore innovation from migrating away.
Inflation, declining global competitiveness of Turkish exporters, high interest rates and price pressure from local and Chinese competitors are depressing the mood among VDMA members in Türkiye. Investments and growth are failing to materialize.
Batam’s BBK SEZ emerges as a cost-efficient hub for manufacturing, logistics, and digital services. When linked with Singapore and Johor, the tripartite sees potential to strengthen regional supply chains and reshape the future of a tri-hub network.
To further facilitate high-quality development and people-to-people exchanges, Chinese authorities have announced significant extensions to visa-free entry policies for citizens of numerous countries.
Mechanical engineering has long driven innovation, but somewhere along the way, it lost its ‘cool’ factor. On 21 Nov 2025, the 10th VDMA SEA Summit gathered industry leaders to explore how to attract and engage the next generation.
Ukraine is facing one of the biggest energy crises since the beginning of the war of aggression. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is calling for support.
Shaping maritime transformation together: VDMA and SMM deepen future dialogue with China at Marintec China 2025
Industries in Southeast Asian markets are facing challenges: Is China's overcapacity threatening to deindustrialise the region?
On November 27, 2025, the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery China Executive Dinner took place successfully in Shanghai. Senior representatives from VDMA joined top executives from over 20 member companies.
Incoming orders in the mechanical engineering sector rose by 4% in real terms in October compared to the previous year. This was driven by non-euro countries. The growth is pleasing, but only represents consolidation at a low level.
China unveils its 2025–2030 blueprint to digitize the machinery industry: Accelerating smart factories, intelligent equipment, and AI-driven services. What this means for mechanical engineering.
A target market analysis is usually prepared for projects within the scope of the market development program. We have compiled an overview of the projects in the water industry up to 2025.
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.
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 France and with key data on the French water sector.
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 Egypt and with key data on the Egyptian water sector.
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.
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.
For the orientation of VDMA member companies, the German Engineering Federation has created a new data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with Brazil.
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).
For the guidance of member companies, the VDMA Process Equipment and Machinery Association has updated a data sheet on foreign trade in machinery with Portugal.
With an update that is exclusively available to VDMA member companies for download, we provide you with up-to-date information on exports of water and wastewater technology from Germany.
Development of German exports of mechanical engineering/process engineering machinery and apparatus, country shares, most important machinery supplier countries incl. goods shares, EU exports
From June 10 to 14, 2024, AHK Poland is organizing a business initiation trip "Innovative technologies for water treatment and wastewater management to Poland.
From 26 to 30 June 2023, AHK Portugal will conduct a "Business initiation for German companies and providers of solutions in the water sector in connection with water scarcity" to Portugal.
List of planned experience exchange events ("ERFA") from the North, VDMA Regional Association North and the Marine Equipment and Systems (MES) working group.
Where answers count and expertise is required: At VDMA Photovoltaik Equipment, you receive all the services the industry needs in Germany. Professional and reliable, we are the drive and backing for your company. We catch the top themes and create values for you.
After 5 years of steady growth, the German production of process machinery and equipment dropped by 10 percent to 6.9 billion euros in 2015. Exports of process engineering machinery and equipment reached a volume of 5.5 billion euros. This is an increase of 1 percent compared to last year.
Events
China is changing rapidly - and with it the global markets. The event on 27.01.2026 in Wuppertal will show how companies can adapt their strategies.
What needs to be considered during an inspection by the customs authorities?
Exiting the Russian market remains a major challenge. In the web event, André Scholz, tax and business expert and partner at RSP International Moscow, reports on the current changes and their practical implementation.
From 09.02. to 12.02.2026, the AHK Philippines, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), is organizing a business initiation trip to the Philippines. This is a project-related funding measure as part of the market development program for SMEs. The target group is primarily small and medium-sized German companies.
The requirements for the creation of export documents are constantly growing - the ATLAS electronic export procedure can quickly become a real challenge, especially for newcomers.
On behalf of the Chairman, Christoph Schäfer/CEO Köppern GmbH & Co. KG, we cordially invite you to the next meeting of the North America Steering Committee in Monheim, at TML Technik GmbH.
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