BERLIN (Reuters) – Around four-fifths of German firms with foreign exposure have experienced a collapse in revenues as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and 93% expect global economic conditions to improve only in 2021 or later, according to a survey.
The survey for the German Chambers of Commerce showed the devastation wrought by the epidemic on Europe’s largest economy, with 15% of the roughly 3,300 companies surveyed reporting a halving of their annual turnover.
But the focus of the impact was shifting: whereas lockdown-related travel restrictions had a major impact on sectors including tourism and industry earlier on, now companies were increasingly feeling the impact via slackening demand.
In July 59% of respondents complained of ailing demand for their products and services, up from 57% in April. Teething troubles like supply bottlenecks and production stops had become less of an issue, however.
The impact of the virus was also being felt in firms’ dwindling eagerness to invest: in July, more than half of firms were planning to invest less abroad, compared with only 35% in April.
(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Michelle Martin)
