Order backlog in the manufacturing sector stagnates

The real (price-adjusted) order backlog in the manufacturing sector remained unchanged in June 2025 compared to May. However, according to the Federal Statistical Office, the backlog increased by +5.1% compared to the previous year. The range - i.e. the time that companies could theoretically produce without new orders - increased slightly to 7.9 months.

Different developments per sector

Industry-specific fluctuations can be seen in detail:

• Other vehicle construction (e.g. aircraft, ships, trains) increased by +1.9 %.
• Mechanical engineering (-0.8%) and the automotive industry (-1.4%) recorded declines.
• Consumer goods manufacturers recorded an increase of +0.6%.

Overall, foreign orders rose by +0.4%, while domestic orders fell by -0.6%.

What does this mean for founders and start-ups?

The development is a double-edged signal for industrial start-ups and suppliers:

• On the one hand, the stable range of just under eight months provides planning security in an often volatile environment.
• On the other hand, the stagnation in the mechanical engineering and automotive industries shows that traditional core markets in particular are under pressure. Niche innovations and digital solutions could be particularly in demand here.

Start-ups in the field of industrial software, AI-supported efficiency solutions or smart supply chains therefore have the opportunity to benefit from the growing demands for transparency, flexibility and cost optimization.

A stable tailwind with unanswered questions

With a year-on-year increase of over 5%, demand in the manufacturing sector remains robust. The decisive factor for start-ups is whether they succeed in closing the gap between traditional industry and innovative technologies. Right now, cooperation between corporates and start-ups is needed to revitalize stagnating segments such as mechanical engineering and accelerate the transformation of the industry.