The general business climate index for the agricultural machinery industry in Europe has continued to decline after entering negative territory for the first time since its upturn a year ago. In May 2026, the index decreased from -6 points to -9 points (on a scale of -100 to +100).
In addition to the already consistently negative evaluation of current business, there has now been a further significant downward revision of turnover expectations. Once again, the strongest deterioration in expectations is seen in the arable equipment segment, which shows the worst business climate among all segments. By contrast, the business climate for livestock equipment has further improved and ranks far above average in the segment comparison.
Furthermore, overall expectations regarding future orders have also continued to decline. Meanwhile, only slightly more than 10% of survey participants expect orders to increase over the next six months. As a result, the business climate is once again on the brink of recession.
