Economic barometer: fewer corona issues in Q4 2021

Fewer problems arose in the fourth quarter of 2021 as a result of the corona crisis in most FHI sectors. A faltering supply of products and components remains the biggest bottleneck globally, according to the latest economic barometer.

Illness among staff was also a problem in the last quarter of last year. Furthermore, from the data that less and less support has been requested from the government. The lowest point of the corona crisis may now be behind us.

Within the industry Industrial Electronics the companies surveyed have become slightly less optimistic about the corona problem: almost 25 percent say that they are not experiencing any problems in Q4, but expect that this will happen. In the previous two quarters, this figure was still around 10 percent. Entrepreneurs in the IP sector are satisfied with their turnover and order portfolio, but are increasingly suffering from difficult supply.

Companies active in the Industrial automation show a more or less stable picture when it comes to corona and the impact on business operations. The order portfolios are well felt and the turnover at most companies is in order, but in this sector too, the supply is sluggish and therefore a major problem.

Nearly 50 percent of surveyed companies in the industry Laboratory Technology say they were affected by the corona problem in Q4. This is a significant increase compared to the previous three quarters. Companies complain about declining order portfolios and a decrease in turnover. Supply also remains a problem child within the LT sector. Furthermore, a growing group (approximately 65 percent) believes that the turnover achieved in Q1 2022 will remain the same compared to the previous two quarters.

Exactly half of the companies that fall under the sector Building Automation fall, were not affected by the corona crisis in the fourth quarter; a quarter were. All respondents indicated that a lack of supply was a bottleneck. On average, the companies were satisfied with the turnover achieved and the filling of the order portfolio.

The picture of the fourth quarter in the industry Medical Technology can be described as stable, although a larger group (almost 60 percent) was no longer affected by the corona crisis. Again, all respondents indicated that the supply chain was disrupted. Nevertheless, the order position and turnover improved at most companies.