Wiesbaden – September 09, 2026 -- Germany's industrial production dropped 1.1% month-on-month in July 2026 on a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Output was 1.6% lower than in July 2025 on a calendar-adjusted basis. June 2026 figures were revised down to flat growth (0.0%) from a preliminary +0.2%, leaving output 0.5% below the prior-year month.
Automotive output collapses 9.2% on production pause
The July decline was driven primarily by the automotive industry, where output fell 9.2% versus June on a seasonally and calendar-adjusted basis. The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) attributed the drop to a multi-week production halt.
Energy generation rises 4.7% on wind and solar gains
Energy generation output increased 4.7% month-on-month, offsetting part of the industrial decline. Destatis linked the gain specifically to higher electricity generation from wind and photovoltaic sources.
Core industrial output excluding energy and construction falls 2.2%
Manufacturing output (production excluding energy and construction) fell 2.2% versus June. Capital goods production dropped 3.4%, consumer goods output fell 2.2%, and intermediate goods production declined 0.2%. Construction output, by contrast, rose 0.9%. Compared with July 2025, manufacturing output was down 3.3% on a calendar-adjusted basis.
Energy-intensive sectors post 1.7% monthly decline
Production in energy-intensive industries fell 1.7% month-on-month in July. On a three-month comparison basis, output in these sectors from May to July was flat versus the preceding three months (0.0%), and 0.5% below the July 2025 level on a calendar-adjusted basis. These five energy-intensive branches accounted for 77% of total industrial energy consumption in 2021 while contributing 17% of industrial gross value added, employing around 930,000 workers across roughly 7,000 industrial establishments in Germany.
Three-month trend shows modest 0.4% gain despite monthly drop
Looking at the less volatile three-month comparison, production from May to July 2026 was 0.4% higher than in the preceding three months, suggesting the July decline followed a period of relative stability rather than a sustained downturn.