VDMA, a German association representing 3,600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies, said the industrial valve industry experienced an expected downturn in the first half of 2026, following a prolonged period of growth.
Industry revenue fell 4% year on year, or 5% after adjusting for price changes.
Domestic business declined 4%, while revenue from overseas markets dropped 5%, reflecting weaker investment activity across major end-user industries.
“The enormous uncertainty in global markets—and in particular the conflicts in the Middle East—significantly weighed on our business at the start of the year,” explains Axel Weidner, Chairman of the VDMA Valves Association and partner at Mankenberg. “Normally, our industry benefits from its broad presence across various sales markets. In the first months of the year, however, a noticeable reluctance to invest was observed in nearly all major end-user industries. This has slowed down even our otherwise very resilient industry.”
However, business sentiment has improved in recent months.
“The latest VDMA economic survey on valves shows that sentiment in the industry has now improved noticeably,” adds Dr. Laura Dorfer, Managing Director of VDMA Valves. “More companies are once again anticipating stable or good business performance. Only a few still expect the situation to deteriorate further. The outlook for international markets is also more optimistic again.”
The pharmaceutical, shipbuilding and energy sectors are providing positive momentum, while companies also see opportunities in the growing defence sector.
“It is particularly encouraging that the positive sentiment is already being confirmed by market trends,” says Dorfer. “Order intake has been showing a clear upward trend again for several months.”
VDMA expects the market to recover during the second half of 2026, particularly in key foreign markets, with full-year performance forecast to remain broadly in line with 2025.
Valve World Expo in Düsseldorf later this year is expected
to provide additional opportunities for companies to showcase technologies and
develop international business.
Exports remained relatively stable, reaching €2.8 billion in the first six months, up 2.8%. The European Union continued to be the largest regional market.
The US became the industry’s largest individual export market, with exports rising 11.8% to €313.1 million.
China ranked second after exports fell 14.1% to €266.9 million, while France was third at €163.5 million, up 1.4%.
“Access to the Chinese market remains challenging,” reports Axel Weidner. “On the one hand, key end-user industries there are no longer growing as dynamically as in the past. On the other hand, our member companies are increasingly reporting barriers to market access and a stronger preference for local suppliers. This is reflected in the declining export figures.” -OGN/TradeArabia News Service
