Macroeconomic and sector-specific conditions
Macroeconomic conditions
According to the forecast published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July 2026, global economic growth will weaken further over the course of 2026. The IMF now expects a slowdown to just 3.0 percent in 2026, following global growth of 3.5 percent in 2025. This latest prediction is a little lower than the forecast published in April 2026 of 3.1 percent. The slight softening of global growth is primarily attributable to the economic fallout from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, the global economy is being supported by the sustained upturn in the technology sector resulting from advances in artificial intelligence and its increasing use.
The global rate of inflation is expected to average 4.7 percent in 2026, up from 4.1 percent in 2025 (IMF, July 2026). The main factors driving inflation are higher prices for energy and food. Given the increased price pressure, the IMF does not expect the central banks to significantly ease monetary policy.
Economic growth of 1.7 percent is predicted for the advanced economies in 2026 (2025: 1.9 percent). Growth in the eurozone will remain subdued, with expansion of 0.9 percent predicted (2025: 1.4 percent). By contrast, the US economy is expected to grow by 2.3 percent, a slight rise on the prior-year rate of 2.1 percent despite sustained inflationary pressure. Investment in AI technologies and fiscal stimulus are key stabilizing factors. Emerging markets and developing countries are forecast to record economic growth of 3.8 percent (2025: 4.5 percent). The IMF expects China’s growth rate to slow to 4.6 percent (2025: 5.0 percent). Higher global energy prices are taking a particular toll, as are ongoing uncertainties and structural factors that are holding back economic activity (IMF, July 2026).
Sectoral conditions
Sales markets
According to KION, order numbers in the global market for industrial trucks were up year on year in the first half of 2026. Official figures for the growth trend in the overall market for industrial trucks in the second quarter of 2026 were not available at the time this report was published, however.
The official figures (World Industrial Truck Statistics, July 2026) show a strong rise in global order numbers in the first quarter of 2026. New orders in the EMEA region were up significantly compared with the prior-year period. Strong increases were also recorded in the APAC and Americas regions. Worldwide order numbers in the counterbalance truck market were up strongly year on year. Warehouse trucks registered significant growth despite a marginal decrease in demand for entry-level models. Because the average price of warehouse trucks is lower than that of counterbalance trucks, the increase in global order numbers is not reflected in the change in the value of the market (World Industrial Truck Statistics, July 2026). According to KION, the growth in value of the overall market for industrial trucks (as measured by order intake) was therefore below the growth in order numbers during the reporting period.
According to KION, and backed up by data from market research institute Interact Analysis, the global market for warehouse automation solutions (measured by order intake in the project business) expanded noticeably in the first half of 2026. Increased capital expenditure on automated distribution centers and warehouse capacity, along with the modernization of existing storage facilities, had a positive impact on demand. Projects postponed from the previous year increasingly materialized in the form of new orders, accompanied by a greater willingness to invest. At the same time, growing geopolitical uncertainties stemming from the Iran war led to delayed investment decisions and a decline in project activities in the region affected by the conflict (Interact Analysis, June 2026).