How Pump and Compressor Exports are Heading for Growth

An overview of the German pumps and compressor manufacturers industry – The year gone by has seen many markets turn positive. Here’s an overview of the German pumps and compressor manufacturers overview of 2014.

In 2013, the manufacturers of fluid pumps operated slightly above the turnover level of the previous year, while the manufacturers of compressors, compressed air and vacuum technology found their turnover 11 per cent above the level of 2012. For 2014, pump manufacturers expect to see 1 per cent growth, with 2 per cent growth in turnover for compressors, compressed air and vacuum technology.

Liquid Pumps: Production Continues to Grow

In 2011, according to the Federal Statistical Office the production of fluid pumps (without hydro pumps) reached €4.5 billion, which is nearly the record level of 2008. This value slightly exceeded in 2012 (+0.5 per cent) with an overall value of €4.6 billion.

Rotary pump manufacturers took the biggest piece of the cake with more than 40 per cent, while manufacturers of oscillating or rotating displacement pumps accounted for 10 per cent each. In the first three quarters of 2013, production generated €3.5 billion. This is a growth of 2.6 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. The volume for the whole year 2013 is estimated at €4.7 billion.

The incoming order statistics for fluid pumps obtained from the VDMA members reflects the economic situation of German pump manufacturers (figure 1). Demand throughout 2013 was only slightly below (-1 per cent) the level in the previous year, with a slight decline in domestic business as compared to exports which remained on the same level as in the previous year. In January 2014, capacity utilization, which is a good indicator for the cushion of orders, was in the ‘lower’ range with 81 per cent. Turnover generated in 2013 was 2 per cent higher than in the previous year.

FIG 1: Price-adjusted receipts of orders Pumps + Systems based on turnover 2010 = 100, moving three-month average. (Source: VDMA)

Germany still Export World Champion

Fluid pump exports also saw moderate growth in 2013, as well as production. In the first eleven months of 2013, Germany supplied 6.1 per cent more fluid pumps (without hydro pumps) abroad than in the same period for the previous year, corresponding to an export volume of €4.7 billion. It looks as if a volume of €5.1 billion will be achieved for the whole year of 2013. And so Germany remains the unchallenged export world champion...