German industrial output rises 0.7% in September, beating forecasts

What happened. On November 6 Destatis published provisional data: industrial production rose 0.7% in September 2026 from August, adjusted for seasonal and calendar effects. Compared with September last year, output was up 0.4%. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected output to stay flat.

What drove it. According to Destatis, the gain came mainly from the car industry, up 17.1% on the month. Car output had been low in July and August, partly due to production changeovers and factory holidays. Pharmaceuticals added 8.0% after two weak months. Construction pulled down, minus 2.6%, and so did machinery, minus 6.5% after a 5.8% gain in August. Energy production fell 1.2%.

Without energy and construction. Excluding energy and construction, industry grew 1.7% on the month. Capital goods, meaning machines and equipment for businesses, rose 3.0%, consumer goods 0.8%, intermediate goods 0.1%. Energy intensive branches rose 0.8% on the month but fell 3.5% over the quarter and 1.9% from a year earlier.

Caveats. August was revised from plus 2.0% to plus 1.0%. Destatis says this came from extra data that construction firms filed with their advance tax returns. The three month comparison, which is less volatile, shows a 0.4% drop in the third quarter versus the second. Commerzbank chief economist Joerg Kraemer told Reuters that production keeps moving sideways at a low level.

Confirmed facts

• German industrial production rose 0.7% in September 2026 from August after seasonal and calendar adjustment, and 0.4% from September 2025.^[1][2]
• Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast no change.^[2]
• August growth was revised down from 2.0% to 1.0%.^[1][2]
• Car industry output rose 17.1% on the month and pharmaceuticals 8.0%; construction fell 2.6% and machinery 6.5%.^[1]
• Third quarter output was 0.4% lower than in the second quarter.^[1]
• Energy intensive branches rose 0.8% on the month but fell 3.5% over the quarter.^[1]

Implications

• ConfirmedSeptember's gain mostly reflects carmakers recovering from summer shutdowns.
• Our readingOne strong month does not change the picture of a weak quarter, so it is too early to call a turnaround. This is our view.
• Our readingA better than expected print may give the euro and European industrial stocks a small lift, but markets are focused on the US tech selloff right now. This is our view.

Still unknown

• Whether carmakers keep growing in October
• How much the September figure will be revised
• How new German government spending will feed into industry

Who it affects

Germany, Europe. People who follow the euro, European stocks and the German economy

Sources

1. Destatis (Federal Statistical Office of Germany): Production in September 2026: +0.7% on the previous month November 6, 2026 · official
2. Reuters (via Investing.com): German industrial output rises 0.7% in September November 6, 2026 · media