Moderate first-quarter order intake

In 2024, the turnover of mechanical engineering companies (machinery, metal products and vehicles) in Finland decreased by around 4 per cent on 2023. Their turnover in Finland amounted to approximately EUR 38 billion in 2024.

The value of new orders in mechanical engineering fell by 32 per cent in the January-March period from the preceding quarter. Year-on-year, the value of new orders increased by 5 per cent. The large decline in the order intake is due to a very valuable ship order that was recognised in the previous quarter. Compared to the order intake for the first three quarters of last year, the order intake for January–March could be described as moderate.

At the end of March, the value of order books was 4 per cent higher than at the end of December, and 8 per cent higher than in March 2024. It should be noted that shipyards have an exceptionally large share of the total value of order books.

On the basis of order trends at the turn of the year, the turnover of mechanical engineering companies is expected to start rising gradually this year.

The number of personnel employed by mechanical engineering companies in Finland at the end of March was 0.5 per cent higher than at the end of December. The industry had approximately 136,600 employees in March.