Germany’s manufacturing industry powers a large share of the economy: in 2022 it generated 22.9% of gross value added and reached €1.65 trillion in output at current prices. The sector supports 7.8 million jobs and reflects wider workforce trends, with women making up 28%. On the page, you’ll follow production and export performance—from machinery and vehicles to automotive and chemicals—then see how innovation and sustainability priorities are reshaping results.
Key Takeaways
- Germany's manufacturing industry accounted for 22.9% of gross value added in 2022
- Total manufacturing output in Germany reached €1.65 trillion in 2022 at current prices
- The chemical industry subsector generated €227 billion in production value in 2022
- Manufacturing employed 7.8 million people in 2022, representing 18.5% of total employment
- Average gross monthly earnings in manufacturing were €4,850 in 2022
- Manufacturing apprenticeships numbered 505,000 in 2022
- Germany exported €1.49 trillion in manufacturing goods in 2022
- Machinery and vehicles accounted for 52% of manufacturing exports in 2022
- Automotive exports reached €174 billion in 2022
- Germany's manufacturing R&D spending was €105 billion in 2022, 6.4% of turnover
- 35% of manufacturing firms invested in AI in 2022
- Patent applications from manufacturing: 25,000 in 2022
- CO2 emissions from manufacturing fell 5.2% in 2022 to 180 million tons
- Renewable energy share in manufacturing 28% in 2022
- Energy efficiency improved by 2.1% in manufacturing in 2022
In 2022, German manufacturing powered exports and jobs, with strong R&D and AI investment.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Contribution30 stats
01
Germany's manufacturing industry accounted for 22.9% of gross value added in 2022
02
Total manufacturing output in Germany reached €1.65 trillion in 2022 at current prices
03
The chemical industry subsector generated €227 billion in production value in 2022
04
Automotive manufacturing output was €434 billion in 2022, representing 28% of total manufacturing
05
Machinery and equipment manufacturing produced €298 billion worth in 2022
06
Electrical equipment manufacturing output stood at €142 billion in 2022
07
Metal products manufacturing generated €110 billion in 2022
08
Food and beverages manufacturing output was €195 billion in 2022
09
Plastics and rubber products manufacturing reached €65 billion in 2022
10
Pharmaceutical manufacturing output hit €50 billion in 2022
11
Manufacturing value added grew by 1.8% in real terms in 2022 compared to 2021
12
Industrial production index for manufacturing was 104.5 in 2022 (2015=100)
13
Turnover in manufacturing increased by 18.5% nominally in 2022 to €2.8 trillion
14
Manufacturing's share in total German GDP was 19.4% in 2022 excluding construction
15
Basic metals production value was €102 billion in 2022
16
Fabricated metal products (except machinery) output €180 billion in 2022
17
Computer, electronic and optical products manufacturing €85 billion in 2022
18
Transport equipment manufacturing (excl. autos) €75 billion in 2022
19
Wood and paper products manufacturing €48 billion in 2022
20
Textile and apparel manufacturing output €18 billion in 2022
21
Printing and reproduction of recorded media €15 billion in 2022
22
Leather and related products manufacturing €2.5 billion in 2022
23
Other manufacturing output €25 billion in 2022
24
Manufacturing repair and installation services €55 billion in 2022
25
Coke and refined petroleum products €70 billion in 2022
26
Manufacturing gross value added per employee was €128,000 in 2022
27
Labor productivity in manufacturing increased by 2.1% in 2022
28
Unit labor costs in manufacturing rose by 4.2% in 2022
29
Manufacturing investment in tangible goods was €140 billion in 2022
30
Germany's manufacturing PMI averaged 48.5 in 2022 indicating contraction
Interpretation
Economic Contribution Interpretation
In 2022, Germany’s manufacturing industry delivered 22.9% of gross value added and €1.65 trillion in output, showing that the sector’s economic contribution is heavily driven by key subsectors such as automotive manufacturing at €434 billion (28% of total) and chemicals at €227 billion.
02 · Category
Employment24 stats
01
Manufacturing employed 7.8 million people in 2022, representing 18.5% of total employment
02
Average gross monthly earnings in manufacturing were €4,850 in 2022
03
Manufacturing apprenticeships numbered 505,000 in 2022
04
Women comprised 28% of manufacturing workforce in 2022
05
Manufacturing unemployment rate was 3.2% in 2022
06
Part-time employment in manufacturing was 22% of total in 2022
07
Foreign workers made up 24% of manufacturing employees in 2022
08
Manufacturing establishments numbered 187,000 in 2022
09
Average manufacturing firm size was 42 employees in 2022
10
Manufacturing R&D personnel totaled 450,000 in 2022
11
Skilled worker shortage affected 45% of manufacturing firms in 2022
12
Manufacturing overtime hours averaged 2.5 hours per week in 2022
13
Temporary agency workers in manufacturing: 300,000 in 2022
14
Manufacturing youth employment rate (15-24) was 8.5% in 2022
15
Older workers (55+) comprised 25% of manufacturing workforce in 2022
16
Manufacturing collective bargaining coverage was 55% in 2022
17
Annual working hours in manufacturing averaged 1,350 in 2022
18
Manufacturing absenteeism rate due to illness was 5.2% in 2022
19
Digital skills gap reported by 60% of manufacturing HR managers in 2022
20
Manufacturing training expenditure per employee €2,500 in 2022
21
Employee turnover rate in manufacturing 4.8% in 2022
22
Manufacturing firms with over 500 employees: 1,200 in 2022
23
Micro-enterprises (<10 emp) in manufacturing: 120,000 in 2022
24
Manufacturing SMEs (10-249 emp) numbered 65,000 in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Interpretation
In Germany’s manufacturing sector in 2022, 7.8 million people were employed, with women making up only 28% of the workforce, showing that employment is sizable while gender balance still lags.
03 · Category
Exports28 stats
01
Germany exported €1.49 trillion in manufacturing goods in 2022
02
Machinery and vehicles accounted for 52% of manufacturing exports in 2022
03
Automotive exports reached €174 billion in 2022
04
Chemical products exports €138 billion in 2022
05
Machinery exports €205 billion in 2022
06
Electrical machinery exports €112 billion in 2022
07
EU received 57% of Germany's manufacturing exports in 2022
08
USA was top non-EU export market with €110 billion in 2022
09
China imported €100 billion in German manufacturing goods in 2022
10
Export price index for manufacturing rose 12.5% in 2022
11
Manufacturing trade surplus was €226 billion in 2022
12
Passenger cars export volume 3.7 million units in 2022
13
Aircraft and spacecraft exports €25 billion in 2022
14
Pharmaceuticals exports €52 billion in 2022
15
Plastics exports €28 billion in 2022
16
Steel products exports €40 billion in 2022
17
Manufacturing export growth to Asia 8.2% in 2022
18
Share of manufacturing in total exports 92.5% in 2022
19
UK manufacturing imports from Germany €70 billion in 2022
20
France top EU partner with €130 billion manufacturing exports in 2022
21
Netherlands received €105 billion in 2022
22
Manufacturing exports to Africa €15 billion in 2022
23
Latin America manufacturing exports €25 billion in 2022
24
Export dependency ratio for manufacturing 45% in 2022
25
Top 10 export products made up 60% of manufacturing exports in 2022
26
Medical instruments exports €12 billion in 2022
27
Furniture exports €14 billion in 2022
28
Watches and precision instruments €8 billion in 2022
Interpretation
Exports Interpretation
In 2022, Germany’s manufacturing exports totaled €1.49 trillion, with machinery and vehicles driving over half of exports and highlighting the country’s strong concentration in heavy industry sectors, including €205 billion in machinery and €174 billion in automotive goods.
More related reading
04 · Category
Innovation22 stats
01
Germany's manufacturing R&D spending was €105 billion in 2022, 6.4% of turnover
02
35% of manufacturing firms invested in AI in 2022
03
Patent applications from manufacturing: 25,000 in 2022
04
4.0% of GDP spent on R&D in manufacturing-related fields in 2022
05
Robotics density in manufacturing 415 robots per 10,000 employees in 2022
06
62% of manufacturing firms use Industry 4.0 technologies in 2022
07
Additive manufacturing market volume €4.5 billion in 2022
08
IoT connections in manufacturing 1.2 million in 2022
09
Big data analytics adopted by 48% of manufacturers in 2022
10
Cybersecurity investments in manufacturing €2.8 billion in 2022
11
3D printing installations 15,000 units in manufacturing in 2022
12
Digital twin usage 35% in automotive manufacturing in 2022
13
R&D tax incentives claimed €12 billion in manufacturing in 2022
14
High-tech manufacturing exports €450 billion in 2022
15
University-industry R&D collaborations 5,200 in manufacturing in 2022
16
Blockchain pilots in supply chain manufacturing 20% adoption trial in 2022
17
5G implementation in factories 12% of large manufacturers in 2022
18
Predictive maintenance systems in 55% of machinery firms in 2022
19
Quantum computing R&D projects 15 funded in manufacturing in 2022
20
AR/VR training modules used by 28% of firms in 2022
21
Manufacturing innovation clusters numbered 45 in 2022
22
Clean energy patents from manufacturing 3,200 in 2022
Interpretation
Innovation Interpretation
In 2022, Germany’s manufacturing innovation momentum is clear as it combined high investment in R&D with rapid adoption of new technologies, with €105 billion spent on manufacturing R&D at 6.4% of turnover alongside 35% of firms investing in AI and 62% using Industry 4.0.
05 · Category
Sustainability26 stats
01
CO2 emissions from manufacturing fell 5.2% in 2022 to 180 million tons
02
Renewable energy share in manufacturing 28% in 2022
03
Energy efficiency improved by 2.1% in manufacturing in 2022
04
Waste recycling rate in manufacturing 98% in 2022
05
45% of manufacturers achieved ISO 14001 certification in 2022
06
Water usage in manufacturing per unit output down 3.5% in 2022
07
Circular economy material use 15% of manufacturing inputs in 2022
08
GHG emissions intensity in chemicals down 4% in 2022
09
1,200 manufacturing firms joined climate neutrality initiative by 2022
10
Energy consumption in manufacturing 1,050 TWh in 2022
11
Electrification rate in manufacturing processes 22% in 2022
12
Biodiversity protection measures on 60% of manufacturing sites in 2022
13
Hydrogen readiness projects 250 in manufacturing in 2022
14
Scope 3 emissions reporting by 55% of large manufacturers in 2022
15
Sustainable sourcing compliance 72% in automotive supply chains in 2022
16
Manufacturing carbon pricing internal €50/ton average in 2022
17
80% reduction target for energy use by 2050 adopted by 90% firms in 2022 surveys
18
Bio-based materials use up 12% in plastics manufacturing in 2022
19
NOx emissions from manufacturing plants down 6% in 2022
20
SO2 emissions reduced to 25,000 tons in manufacturing 2022
21
Dust emissions 45,000 tons from manufacturing in 2022
22
Manufacturing invested €8.5 billion in green technologies in 2022
23
Zero-waste certifications held by 15% of food manufacturers in 2022
24
65% of manufacturers use ERP for sustainability tracking in 2022
25
Manufacturing sector's share of total German CO2 emissions 25% in 2022
26
Energy audits conducted in 92% of manufacturing firms > larger than 10 MW in 2022
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
Germany’s manufacturing sector made clear sustainability gains in 2022, with CO2 emissions down 5.2% to 180 million tons while waste recycling reached 98% and water use per unit output fell 3.5%.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Germany Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-manufacturing-industry-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Germany Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/germany-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Germany Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/germany-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
46 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level