15 February 2021

VDMA_GERMANY: OUTLOOK 2021, CHANCES OF RECOVERY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED

Despite the second lockdown and the associated restrictions, VDMA Woodworking Machinery Association still sees good chances for a rebound in demand and has started 2021 with optimism. "We still expect a 3 per cent increase in the current year," stated the new chairman of the woodworking machinery trade association, Markus Hüllmann, and confirmed the production forecast in an online press conference. "In view of the many problems caused by Corona, this is quite ambitious." Hüllmann elaborated on the obstacles encountered in international business, especially when it comes to the delivery of larger machines. "Where our employees cannot travel to assemble and commission, or can only do so under the strictest regulations, we try to use digital tools to enable the operators to take their own measures. Sometimes this succeeds, but often it does not. If the final machinery acceptance at the customer's site does not take place, the revenues then received with great delay. Without highly flexible and committed employees, nothing works in such a situation," Hüllmann explained.

For the past year 2020, VDMA still assumes a minus of 15 percent in production. According to figures from the German Federal Statistical Office, the production value during the first three quarters decreased by almost 17 percent to some 1.9 billion euros. "Due to the improved order situation in the fourth quarter, we are optimistic about our forecast," said Dominik Wolfschütz, market analyst of the VDMA woodworking machinery department. Especially in Germany, order activity had gone up significantly. In addition, selected larger projects and standard machine business were also good. Exports of woodworking machinery fell by 15 per cent from January to November 2020. Only slight declines have been recorded in China, Austria, Brazil and Turkey.
In contrast, there were above-average declines in the markets USA, Great Britain, Italy, and Spain. The currently good capacity utilisation in many sub-segments of the wood and furniture industry is also stimulating their willingness to invest. Examples continue to be the sawmill sector in large parts of Europe, the further processing of sawn timber into products such as glulam (GLT) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), as well as the pellet plant at the sawmill site, which has become commonplace. After many months without almost any order activity, the order volume for equipment suppliers to the wood-based industry has finally returned to a satisfactory level thanks to orders from China and Turkey. Additionally, new markets such as North Africa have picked up. Manufacturers of wood fibre insulation panels have also placed some orders. In the secondary sector, the construction-related segments are scoring particularly well: the window and door industry is investing, in the furniture industry the kitchen manufacturers are standing out.
The carpentry and joinery trades also continue to buy new machines and tools.

LIGNA 2021
The association's managing director Bernhard Dirr referred to the positive registration numbers and the ongoing preparations of exhibitors for the industry's leading trade show LIGNA in Hanover, Germany, which has been postponed from May to the end of 27 September to 1 October 2021. "We do expect a drop in exhibition space and in the number of smaller international exhibitors. Nonetheless, it is important that practically all the relevant players will be there and that the vast majority of exhibitors will be available for dialogue with the visitors. And it is precisely these face to face contacts that we urgently need and desperately miss", Dirr explained. He expressed optimism that by the end of the summer the global vaccination campaigns that are starting up will pick up strongly and make a proper LIGNA possible.

For more information contact Dr. Bernhard Dirr, General Manager:
VDMA Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen
Lyoner Strasse 18
D-60528 FRANKFURT / Germany
Tel +49 69 66031358 /  Fax +49 69 66032358 / E-mail bernhard.dirr@vdma.org