Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
Material shortages rise in German industry, especially in electronics
Material shortages in Germany’s industrial sector increased in September, according to a survey by the Ifo Institute.
Overall, 14.6% of companies said they lacked supplies or components needed for production, compared with 13.3% in August.
The situation was most strained for makers of data-processing equipment and electronic and optical products, where the share reporting shortages rose to 37.8% from 33.2%.
Strong demand, supported by digitalisation and artificial intelligence, is meeting tight supplies of semiconductors, which are also costly.
Shortages also became more common in chemicals and machinery, while conditions improved in metal production and processing.
The survey head said shortages are not rising across the whole industry, but could increasingly constrain parts of the electronics sector.
Material shortages in German industry rose slightly in September, with 14.6% of companies reporting missing inputs, up from 13.3% in August.
Electronics and related manufacturers faced the sharpest pressure, as the share reporting shortages climbed to 37.8% from 33.2%.
The Ifo Institute said supply problems were not increasing across industry as a whole, but were worsening in some sectors.
Shortages also increased in chemicals and mechanical engineering, while conditions improved in metal production and processing.
- Who
- German industrial companies reported shortages of intermediate products, according to an Ifo Institute survey.
- What
- Material shortages rose slightly overall, with the electronics sector particularly affected.
- When
- In September; the report was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- Strong demand in parts of the electrical industry is meeting strained supplies; the industry also relies on semiconductors that are scarce and in high demand globally.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
There can still be no talk of a widespread increase in supply bottlenecks in industry.
In individual sectors, however, missing intermediate products are again becoming a bigger problem.
Particularly in parts of the electrical industry, strong demand is meeting strained material supplies.
Missing intermediate products could increasingly become a bottleneck there.
13.3% of German industrial companies reported missing intermediate products.
The share of companies reporting shortages rose to 14.6%.
Handelsblatt reported the Ifo Institute survey results.
- German industry
- 14.6% of companies reported shortages in September, up from 13.3% in August
- Data-processing, electronic and optical products
- Shortages rose to 37.8% from 33.2%
- Chemical industry
- Shortages rose to 18.0% from 12.5%
- Mechanical engineering
- Shortages rose to 16.3% from 14.9%
- Metal production and processing
- Shortages fell to 14.2% from 21.1%
Sources
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