Purchasing Managers' Index: Downward trend in German industry continues

(Eschborn/Hamburg, 03.09.2024) The manufacturing industry in Germany recorded a decline in new orders, purchasing volumes and employment in August 2024. New orders fell to their lowest level since November 2023. Overall, manufacturers were less positive about their business prospects than in the previous month. Managers continue to be concerned about the low level of order books and the weak economy in general.

New free of charge series: BME International Sourcing Webinars

In times of constant change, lack of capacities and opportunities to discover unknown sourcing markets for your company, we would like to support your future procurement activities by bringing in some more structure. Our new webinar series is going to provide you with the latest developments in specific regions directly from the experts.

Germany and its due diligence obligations: IntegrityNext and BME published joint study after almost a year Supply Chain due Diligence Act

Survey data shows that companies with 3,000 or more employees are only moderately positive after the first year of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (in German LkSG). Time and organizational effort, transparency and data quality are the biggest challenges in implementing the LkSG.

Ukraine: Business is increasing its support for the Armed Forces and the population

Ukraine: Business is increasing its support for the Armed Forces and the population. The results of the new quarterly survey “Business during the war” conducted by the European Business Association among its member companies demonstrate such a trend. Currently, 61% of the surveyed companies support their employees who are in the Armed Forces, while 56% provide financial support to the Armed Forces and the population. For comparison, in July 2022, 46% supported employees, and 34% provided financial assistance.

BME matchmaking platform crosses the 1000 registered suppliers threshold

BME matchmaking platform crosses the 1000 registered suppliers threshold

Procurement in Ukraine: companies deliver under difficult conditions

Ukraine is a reliable trading partner for German and international business even under the most adverse conditions. This message was conveyed by representatives of German and Ukrainian associations as well as companies in the "Webinar on Purchasing in Ukraine - current situation, chances and risks".

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising purchasing

14th BME-eLÖSUNGSTAGE with 1,000 participants took place in Düsseldorf this May: The two-day specialist congress explored the questions of what contribution AI platforms can make to increasing efficiency, reducing costs and minimising risks in 2023.

Turkey benefits from the trend towards nearshoring

In the medium to long term, German companies rate Turkey's economic potential as high. The infrastructure is excellent in many cases, the industrial base is broad, there are many logistical options for trade with Europe, production is still comparatively cheap, and the availability of labour and skilled workers is good.

Rapid growth of the digital platform for BME matchmaking services!

Rapid growth of the digital platform for BME matchmaking services! More than 110 buyers from 8 countries, over 270 registrations to BME B2B matchmaking events 2023

5 steps to employer branding

If you are looking for an effective way to attract new talent to your company and retain employees in the long term, you need a well-developed employer branding strategy. After all, with an effective employer brand, you can attract missing professionals who are in high demand in the labor market.

BME matchmaking events 2023 in over 20 countries

Find new suppliers with BME: This year the association offers buyers once again numerous opportunities to identify and get to know suppliers around the world.

The countdown to the 8th Western Balkans Purchasing Initiative has started

More than 30 German companies, + 120 suppliers and more than 450 B2B meetings expected. The BME Purchasing Initiative, commissioned by the BMWK as part of the Market Development Programme, is the BME's largest matchmaking event. Since 2015, over 3,000 B2B meetings have successfully taken place as part of the event.

8th CEE Forum with successful B2B matchmaking relaunch

After two years of a compulsory break due to Corona, the 8th CEE Procurement and Supply Forum took place again as a face-to-face event in Prague. With more than 250 scheduled B2B meetings between industrial buyers and qualified suppliers from Central and Eastern Europe, the 2022 networking event again brought concrete added value for all 150 participants.

Cost transparency secures long-term supply relationships

In the face of sharply rising energy prices worldwide, BME specialist group "Global Sourcing" has recently discussed possible solutions for purchasing in a difficult international environment. Energy costs are currently the central price driver for companies. Industrial purchasing has been searching with all its might for suitable solution options. The topic was also the focus of an exchange of views by the Global Sourcing specialist group of German Association of Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics (BME). More than 20 participants, who took part in the discussion round, came to the conclusion that cost transparency secures supply relationships in the long term!

EP&SCE: Top event with 200 CPOs of European companies

From efficiency to resilience. Procurement as the backbone and driver of innovation and transformation in times of dramatic social and geopolitical change: Executives from top European companies discussed these topics at the BME's European Procurement & Supply Chain Excellence Summit in Dresden on 21 June 2022.

BME Survey Ukraine War - Purchasing in the 'NOW'

A recent survey carried out by the buyers' association on the Ukraine war revealed that while a possible energy freeze would pose a major threat to the German economy, it could be an opportunity to use more sustainable energy in the long term.

Global Sourcing Expert Council

Exchange among experts, discussion on current challenges, addressing current issues such as local4local, risk management, logistics, market overviews or political developments, limited to BME members.

India - Global manufacturing hub for investors

Centering the efforts to make India an attractive destination for FDI in manufacturing  and enhance exports, the union government launched subsidy programmes like the production linked incentive (PLI) schemes with an outlay of around US$26 billion. The PLI schemes have provided impetus to various key sectors such as specialty steel, automobiles/auto components, ACC battery, large-scale electronics manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food products, solar EV modules, textile products etc. The aim is to make India a large manufacturing hub. The production should cater to the Indian market as well as exports.

Vietnam: Export Industries and Sourcing Potentials

Vietnam is getting traction as an alternative sourcing destination to China. Many companies that formerly exclusively sourced there are now expanding their supplier network to other nearby countries according to the "China +1" strategies. Within South-East Asia, Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies and compared with other developing markets in the region, this country is emerging as a leader in export-oriented production and a driving force behind free trade agreements.