Country Report - Germany

After growth of 2.3% in 2018, electronics output posted a modest decline of 0.4% in 2019 as demand in key export markets weakened during the year and growth in the domestic economy eased. The coronavirus outbreak and resulting global pandemic has resulted in a further more substantial decline with output declining by 6.9%. The recovery in the second half of the year however, was stronger than expected enabling the original double-digit decline to be avoided. Germany’s electronics industry is dominated by industrial electronics and in particular control and instrumentation. After posting growth of 3.9% in 2018 output declined by 3.2% in 2019 on the back of falling exports and weaker domestic demand, most notably from the automotive sector, but also across other manufacturing industries. In 2020, output declined by a further 9.3% as COVID-19 reduced demand both domestically and in key export markets, in particular in the first half of the year. Medical electronics output, after declining in both 2016 and 2017, posted a modest increase of 1.8% in 2018 before increasing sharply by 12.3% in 2019, growth driven by the increased production of medical X-ray equipment. In 2020, growth in equipment essential to the treatment of the virus was offset by lower, demand for other equipment resulting in an overall increase of 0.5%. Growth is expected to accelerate to 4.2% in 2021 output boosted by increased demand for equipment outside of the treatment of COVID. The production of radio communications equipment (including defence) increased by 4.9% in 2019 with growth centred on radar and navigational aids but fell be an estimated 5.4% in 2020. Output in 2021 will increase by a forecasted 3.6% with the weakness in the commercial aviation market as a result of the pandemic weighing on growth during the year. The production of telecommunications equipment has declined since 2016, output falling by 9.2% in 2019 and a further 6.3% in 2020, this despite the sector benefiting from on-going investment by operators and companies in maintaining the networks and to meet the demand for home working. The announcement by Fujitsu in the final quarter of 2018 that it would close the remaining volume production plant in Germany by 2020 contributed to the 6.4% decline in output during the year. Production is forecast to decline by a further, more modest, 1.1% in 2021.

Table of Contents

Economic Overview
Industry Structure
Production Data 2018-2021
Market Data 2018-2024
Methodologies/Guide to Statistics

Product Coverage

Computing
Office Equipment
Control & Instrumentation
Medical & Industrial
Radio Communications
Telecommunications
Consumer
Semiconductors
Passive Components
Other Components

The Germany Electronics Industry Report provides essential market intelligence for all sizes of company from small enterprises to major global groups and for financial/management consultancies, government agencies and academia requiring a reliable overview of the electronics industry in Germany.

Last Update: May 2021