The business climate in the German print and media industry deteriorated slightly in July 2025. The business climate index determined by the BVDM showed a decline of 2.5 percent compared to the previous month. At 90.7 points, the index was around 0.7 percent below the level of the same month last year. The current situation assessment was significantly more optimistic than in the previous month, but the business outlook for the next six months was gloomier.
In July 2025, the decision-makers surveyed rated their current business situation better than in the previous month and the seasonally adjusted business situation index in July was able to build on the previous month’s improvement. At 6.7%, the index was significantly higher than in the same month last year. This development is primarily due to an improved assessment of the situation by companies. Although the proportion of companies with a positive assessment of their current situation decreased compared to the same month last year, the proportion of companies with a negative assessment of their business situation improved.
Even though the assessment of the order situation remains critical, there were slight improvements in July. This was mainly due to the decline in negative assessments. 36.6% of companies rated the order situation as poor, 0.8% as good and 62.6% gave a neutral assessment. Capacity utilization also improved by 5.2% compared to the same month last year and, at 74.8%, is well below the long-term industry average of the last 10 years (82.2%). In the quarterly survey on obstacles to production, 54% of the companies surveyed stated that they were affected. A lack of orders was mentioned by 40% of companies as the primary obstacle, followed by a shortage of skilled workers at 18%.
Business expectations for the next six months were less positive. More than two thirds of companies expect business development to remain the same over the next six months. Around 8% expect the business situation to improve, while 22.3% anticipate a deterioration.
BVDM
The Bundesverband Druck und Medien e. V. (BVDM) is the umbrella organization of the German printing industry. As an employers’ association, political trade association and technical trade association, it represents the positions and objectives of the printing industry vis-à-vis politicians, administration, trade unions and the supplier industry. The BVDM is supported by eight regional associations. Internationally, it is organized through its membership of Intergraf and FESPA. The printing industry currently comprises around 6,300 predominantly small and medium-sized companies with more than 99,000 employees subject to social security contributions.
