The general Business Climate Index for the Agricultural Machinery Industry in Europe has risen sharply to its highest level since 2008 after having reached the positive range in October for the first time since mid-2019. In May 2021, the index is at +72 points (on a scale of -100 to +100).
Very high levels of turnover have already been secured for the coming months. The volume of orders corresponds currently to a production period of 4.4 months, which is the highest value ever recorded within this survey. Other than during previous upswing periods, the current business improvements do not lag behind improved future expectations. It rather appears that the industry is continuously adjusting its future expectations to an indeed well performing current business and to an ever-increasing order intake from month to month.
With view to the European market side, the regional breakdown shows again for each single market a majority of survey participants expecting turnover increases in the next six months. Austria and Italy are currently at the top of the European market ranking. The Benelux and Romania remain at the bottom of the ranking with solid but comparatively lower confidence levels.