Munich (dpa / lby) - The Bavarian metal and electrical industry is satisfied with its business, but is looking forward to the coming months with concern. Every second company rates its current business situation as good, its associations announced on Tuesday in Munich. The lack of material is slowly beginning to relax. However, "we see falling orders and increasing order cancellations for the next year," and "the shortage of workers and skilled workers is increasingly becoming an obstacle to growth," said CEO Bertram Brossardt.
"Production will be three percent below the previous year on average in 2022," he said. "The production plans are stable. On average for 2023, production will be at the 2022 level."
The earnings situation of the companies has improved since the summer. While 15 percent expect losses or a black zero, "59 percent of the companies assume a net return on sales of more than four percent. That leaves some leeway if the economic conditions should deteriorate in the coming year," said Brossardt.
Companies were burdened by high costs, the uncertain energy supply and the slowdown in the global economy. According to an association survey, the core problem remains the lack of raw materials, materials and preliminary products. "Virtually everyone is struggling with late deliveries." Only 28 percent of companies want to increase their investments in the coming months.
In the current year, the Bavarian metal and electrical industry has created around 15,000 new jobs. In the coming year, the number of employees is likely to increase by a further 10,000 to 872,000. "That's just below the peak of autumn 2018," said Brossardt, welcoming the law to facilitate the immigration of skilled workers.
