Shanghai, 21 April 2026. – The German Group at the CNC Machine Tool Fair (CCMT) 2026, held from 21 to 25 April at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), comprises around 140 exhibitors. With a net exhibition space of approximately 6,000 square meters in the fully booked venue, German companies once again represent the largest international exhibitor group.
“China is the second-largest export market and the most important foreign production hub for the German machine tool industry. After the highly successful CIMT 2025, CCMT 2026 is this year’s opportunity for our industry to present their latest innovations to customers and partners in East Asia”, explains Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association), based in Frankfurt am Main.
Recognizing the strategic importance of the Chinese market, VDW has successfully secured a German Pavilion at CCMT 2026 as part of the German government’s foreign trade fair program. A total of 44 companies will exhibit their latest technologies and solutions within the German Pavilion.
CCMT 2026 highlights German Manufacturers’ Commitment to the Chinese Market
German machine tool manufacturers are making significant efforts to strengthen their presence in China. According to a yearly survey conducted by VDW, there were 12 machine tool production facilities of German machine tool builders in China as of 2024. The country was the only foreign location to emerge from the 2020 crisis year without major losses and has continued to grow ever since. In 2024, production volume stagnated at 1.00 billion euros. However, China’s share in German machine tool manufacturers’ total foreign production increased from 27 to 32 per cent.
While machine tool production “in China for China” remains big, the German export business has been facing challenges. In 2025, German shipments to China fell for the second consecutive year, totaling only 1.26 billion euros (YoY: -18.3 per cent). After three challenging years, German manufacturers’ order intake from China showed a slight recovery, suggesting a modest upward trend. With a market share of 14.6 per cent, China remains Germany’s second-largest export market after the United States (18.2 per cent).
“China continues to be a market of outstanding importance for advanced production technology,” says Dr. Markus Heering. “German machine tool manufacturers are recognized around the world for combining engineering excellence with innovation and application expertise across a wide range of industries. Their solutions are especially sought after in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, medical technology, mechanical engineering and energy. At the same time, a growing share of this demand is now being served locally in China by German-owned production sites instead of through deliveries from Germany.”
umati at CCMT 2026
VDW is also supporting the presentation of umati (universal machine technology interface) at CCMT. Developed as a joint connectivity initiative by VDW and VDMA, the Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association in Germany, umati is set to revolutionize machine communication and interaction within the manufacturing ecosystem.
Machine builders, software developers, component suppliers, and end-users collaborate within the umati community to promote the adoption of open, standardized interfaces that enable seamless, secure, and efficient connectivity. The initiative ensures the consistent implementation of standardized interfaces, provides a global platform for knowledge exchange, enhances market visibility, and offers hands-on demonstrations of its benefits.
At CCMT 2026, umati will once again be open to participation from industry professionals, researchers, organizations, and networks worldwide. ”China does not cease to impress us with quick development and adoption of new, digital technologies. Hence, it is important to collaborate on the basis elements that enable any digitization or AI application: standardized, open interfaces, as we have done for years with the Chinese standardization initiative NC Link.” explains Dr. Alexander Broos, Director Research and Technology at VDW, and umati project lead.
Visitors can explore the latest advancements in standardized OPC UA-based interfaces across a wide range of machinery and technologies at Hall W5, Booth A219 – conveniently located next to the German Pavilion’s information booth and lounge (W5-A211). Please also check out “umati” on WeChat Official Accounts and follow us to stay updated with our latest news and industry insights.
We invite all visitors to visit the German booths in halls W4 and W5 to witness the performance of German exhibitors. You can meet VDW’s team at the German information stand or the umati booth next to it. We look forward to the visit of numerous Chinese manufacturing experts.