In March 2026, the seasonally adjusted business climate in the German printing and media industry deteriorated. The seasonally adjusted business climate index calculated by the BVDM showed a decline of 2.9% compared to the previous month. While the current business situation was rated better by the companies than in February, expectations for the next six months were significantly clouded by the current events in the Persian Gulf.
The seasonally and calendar-adjusted business situation index showed a slight increase in March compared to the previous month. This development is due to a change in the companies’ assessment of the situation. 7% of the companies surveyed rated their current business situation as positive, 22% as negative, while 71% considered it to be satisfactory. Despite this improvement, however, the business and order situation remains tense.
The business expectations of the companies in the printing and media industry for the next six months deteriorated in March. 5% of the companies expect better business conditions, 37% expect a downturn and 58% expect the business situation to remain unchanged. The expectations for the development of sales prices for the next three months have also changed. 27% of the companies expect prices to rise, 70% expect prices to remain unchanged and only 3% expect prices to fall.
This assessment is probably due to the current situation in the Persian Gulf. The attack by the USA and Israel has pushed oil and gas prices up sharply on the world market. There are already indications of rising transport costs and insurance premiums for ships. There is also a risk of supply chain problems, as a change in shipping routes via the Cape of Good Hope would lengthen the transport time. The longer the conflict lasts, the greater the impact on prices and the longer it will take for the market and prices to recover.
BVDM
The German Federal Association of the Printing and Media Industry (BVDM) is the umbrella organisation of the German printing industry. As an employers’ association, a political business association and a technical trade association, it represents the positions and aims of the printing industry towards politics, administration, trade unions and the supply industry. The BVDM is supported by eight regional associations. Internationally, it is organised through its membership of Intergraf and FESPA. The printing industry currently comprises around 6,300 mainly small and medium-sized businesses with more than 99,000 employees subject to social insurance.
