Expected macroeconomic and sectoral conditions

In its forecast published in July 2026, the IMF anticipates that global economic growth will slow slightly to 3.0 percent this year (2025: 3.5 percent). The main factor holding back growth will be the increased energy and commodity prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Given the resulting inflationary pressure, the central banks are likely to maintain their restrictive monetary policy approach and keep interest rates at an elevated level for longer. The global rate of inflation is now expected to average 4.7 percent in 2026, up from 4.1 percent in 2025 (IMF, July 2026).

According to KION, the heightened macroeconomic uncertainties are subduing global investing activities and having an adverse impact on demand for industrial trucks and warehouse automation solutions in some of the regions that are being hit particularly hard.

KION is expecting a substantial increase in the number of orders in the global market for new industrial trucks in 2026. It had forecast only slight growth in the 2025 annual report. A noticeable rise is now likely in the EMEA region, whereas only a slight uptick had been predicted in the 2025 annual report. Substantial growth is forecast in the APAC region in light of the economic momentum observable there. A noticeable increase in order numbers is now expected in the Americas region.

In the warehouse automation market, supported by market research from Interact Analysis (April 2026), KION continues to anticipate a strong increase in global market volume (as measured by order intake) in 2026. Despite heightened economic uncertainties, market growth is still expected in all regions.

Market expectations for 2026 are subject to the influence of sustained macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties as well as increased market volatility.