German Factory Orders Plunge 10.6% in August

German factory orders fell 10.6% month-on-month in August, Destatis reported on October 6, 2026. A Reuters poll of analysts had pointed to a fall of 1.0%. July orders rose 3.2% after revision from a provisional 2.5%. According to Destatis, the decline was attributable to a 61.5% drop in other transport equipment, including ships, trains, aircraft and military vehicles, after that category more than doubled in July on exceptionally high large-scale orders. Excluding large-scale orders, new orders were 0.1% lower than the previous month. Domestic orders declined 17.3%. Foreign orders were down 5.4%, with euro-zone orders down 5.4% and non-euro-zone orders down 5.5%. Orders from June to August were 1.3% higher than in the prior three months. Separately, a wire summary said machinery and plant engineering sector orders fell 5% year over year, with the industry association citing the absence of large contracts and a continuing lack of investment momentum. No contested claims found.