BERLIN, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Germany's industrial orders rebounded in September after four consecutive months of decline, rising 1.1 percent month-on-month, official data showed Wednesday. However, new orders still dropped 3 percent overall in the third quarter (Q3).
The September uptick was driven mainly by a 3.2-percent rise in orders from the automotive industry, following a 6.4-percent fall in August, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported. In contrast, energy-intensive sectors suffered a setback, with orders in the fabricated metal products industry plunging 19 percent.
Foreign demand weakness, hit by external factors such as U.S. tariffs, has long been among the main drags on Germany's manufacturing sector. During the four-month downturn, the decline in overseas demand was particularly steep. In September, however, foreign orders rose 3.5 percent, while domestic orders fell 2.5 percent.
In a statement, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy said this counter-movement indicated that "a clear trend in industrial demand cannot yet be identified." The ministry added that the outlook for German manufacturing remained fragile amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and other headwinds.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on Monday that Germany will introduce an industrial electricity price starting Jan. 1, 2026, pledging government subsidies to help companies cope with persistently high energy costs.
The plan has also drawn skepticism. German news outlet Handelsblatt wrote in a commentary that the measure is "merely an expensive consolation." The newspaper noted that even with state subsidies, electricity costs for German industry remain higher than in other major economies, while the multibillion-euro subsidies required each year are unsustainable in the long term. ■