Noticeably Fewer Material Shortages in German Manufacturing
Material shortages have eased noticeably in German manufacturing. In December, 50.7 percent of the companies surveyed reported problems, down from 59.3 percent in November – the third consecutive fall. This is a finding from the ifo Institute’s latest survey. “Shortages appear to be easing in many industries,” says Klaus Wohlrabe, Head of Surveys at ifo. “This will shore up the economy in the months ahead. However, depending on the development of the corona situation in China, there may be setbacks in the bottlenecks again.”
In almost all manufacturing industries, the number of companies experiencing material shortages has fallen. However, some of the current figures are still well above their long-term average. Manufacturers of machinery and equipment and the automotive industry continue to be the hardest hit. In each of these industries, 75 percent report problems. In the electrical and electronics industry, around 63 percent have the same complaint. At present, the paper industry is least affected, with just 11.3 percent reporting problems.
