In its fall survey, 65% expected growth in the domestic market over the next 24 months. “Our member companies are demonstrating remarkable stability in what is currently an extremely difficult market environment,” explains Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of AG AM.
Although 35% of companies are reporting declining sales, optimism remains at a high level. 58% of AG AM’s member companies anticipate an increase in exports, although this does correspond to a decline of 10 percentage points compared to the spring survey.
Almost three quarters of the member companies cited the EU as their most important export region, followed by the USA (69%) and European countries outside of the EU (33%). “We are watching the USA gain importance as an export market,” Heering continues. Meanwhile, China and other Asian countries were specified as the most important sales markets by 10% and 15% of the companies, respectively.
The most relevant competitors come from China and the USA, with 43% of the respondents seeing themselves in competition with Chinese AM providers and 36% with their US counterparts. “The competition from China is now clearly noticeable,” Heering reports.
In view of the difficult general economic situation, companies are currently holding back on investments. In 2025, only 27% intend to increase their outlay in this area. The most positive effects on the AM business will come from new applications (68%) and new markets (52%). One in five companies also hopes that increased R&D and marketing activities will have a positive impact.
Heering sees lower costs, the development of new applications, and the development of new technologies that focus primarily on series production as important challenges for the future. “Automation will play a decisive role here,” he predicts.