In April 2021, the number of orders received by VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies division increased 69 per cent in real terms compared to previous year. Orders from Germany increased 55 per cent and from abroad by as much as 80 per cent. In April, 158 per cent more orders came from the Euro countries, while non-Euro countries increased their orders by 22 per cent. Turnover also increased by 9.5 per cent compared to the previous year

In 2019, the Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies division exported machines worth €788 million, which was 9.5 per cent less than in 2019. Most of these machines were exported to Poland, followed by the US and France. Exports to Poland increased 69 per cent to €89 million in 2020, whereas exports to the United States decreased by 12 per cent to €77 million. Likewise, exports to France fell by 8 per cent to €68 million. Poland remained the most important export market in the first quarter of 2021, followed by France and the US. In particular, exports within the EU developed positively in the first quarter of 2021, increasing by 3 per cent to €90 million.

The VDMA has around 3,300 German and European mechanical engineering companies as its members. The association represents innovation, export orientation, medium-sized companies and employs around four million people in Europe, more than one million of them in Germany.