Munich – November 04, 2026 -- Germany's consumer goods industry leads the 2026 Competitiveness Index of German Industry with 8 points, but its score has fallen from 13 points in 2024, according to a study by Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Managementforschung (DGMF).
Cost position becomes a priority for 89% of consumer goods companies
89 percent of surveyed consumer goods companies rate their cost position as important for competitiveness. That is up 15 percentage points year on year, the strongest increase of any industry in the study.
Four in five companies (80 percent) already use strategic procurement and supplier management. The study finds further potential in data-based supply chain management, more precise forecasting and consistent product prioritization.
Speed matters to 82% as product cycles shorten
82 percent of companies assign high or very high importance to speed. Short product cycles, volatile demand and shifting consumer habits require faster decisions and more flexible processes.
Only 47% use AI forecasting although 74% call it a competitive factor
Almost three-quarters of companies (74 percent) see artificial intelligence as an important competitive factor. Yet only 47 percent fully or partially use AI-based demand and inventory forecasting, even though these measures show a particularly strong statistical link to competitiveness.
A&M concludes that classic cost-cutting programs alone are not enough. The decisive factor is how companies combine operational efficiency, speed and data-based decisions.
Study draws on 246 decision-maker interviews across four industries
The 2026 edition is based on personal interviews with 246 decision-makers from automotive, mechanical and plant engineering, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. Some in-depth interviews supplemented the sample. The index runs from -100 to +100 and reflects respondents' assessment of their competitive position. A&M and DGMF have conducted the survey for three years.