According to the Central Association of the German Electrical and Electronics Industry (ZVEI) in November 2009 export expectations in the German electrical industry improved for the sixth consecutive time. A quarter of the electrical companies reported that their export trade should increase in the next three months. 62 percent of the electrical companies expect their export trade to remain the same. Only 13 percent expect their export trade to continue to fall.

According to the ZVEI’s current business survey half of the electrical companies which were surveyed expect the impetus for an increase in export trade to come mainly from Europe. However, two fifths of the electrical companies expect the driving force for recovery to come from countries in Asia. By contrast practically no impulses for an increase in foreign trade are expected from America.

Foreign trade prices which have been falling for years in the electrical industry continue to fall. Electronic parts have been particularly affected. In October import prices fell by more than five percent compared with the previous year, this was partly due to the increased strength of the Euro. At the same time export prices fell by half a percent.