Sweden’s industrial sector lost momentum in July, with total new orders down 2.4 percent from June in seasonally adjusted figures, according to fresh data from Statistics Sweden. Compared with a year earlier, orders fell 1.4 percent, highlighting a fragile outlook for both domestic and export markets.
The decline was broad-based. Domestic orders dropped sharply by 5.5 percent, while export orders eased 1.6 percent. On an annual basis, orders from customers in Sweden slipped 1.3 percent, and foreign orders declined 1.4 percent.
The weakness was most pronounced in intermediate goods, where orders tumbled 4.7 percent month-on-month and 5.5 percent year-on-year. Capital goods also contracted, while basic metals and fabricated metal products recorded double-digit annual declines. By contrast, the chemical and pharmaceutical sector stood out with a 25 percent jump in annual orders, offering a rare bright spot.
Despite July’s downturn, the broader picture remains somewhat stronger: from January to July, total orders are still 5.0 percent higher than during the same period last year. Export demand has been the main driver, rising nearly 9 percent year-to-date, while domestic orders are down slightly.
Statistics Sweden also revised June’s figures downward, showing a stronger base effect than initially reported. Analysts warn that the July slump reflects cooling global demand combined with softer local investment appetite, suggesting Swedish industry faces a tougher second half of the year.
Source: Statistics Sweden, Orders in industry decreased in July, 10 Sept 2025, SCB
