We had the honor of attending the presentation of the AHK Spain Autumn 2025 Barometer, published by the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain, which gathers the outlook of German companies in Spain for 2026 and reflects their confidence in the Spanish economy, above the EU average.
This biannual survey shows the expectations with which German companies operating in Spain are approaching the year-end and the start of the new 2026 fiscal year. The barometer is part of the World Business Outlook, a global survey coordinated by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), based in Berlin, in which more than 3,500 German companies worldwide participated. It provides a broad comparison between the situation in Spain and other countries, offering “an early indicator of trends that directly affect competitiveness and investment,” as emphasized by the Managing Director of the German Chamber, Mischa Groh, during the presentation of the results.
Based on the survey, the results highlight that three out of ten companies (31.7%) plan to increase their investments in Spain over the next twelve months, while half will maintain their current levels and only 12.7% foresee a reduction. “The proportion of companies planning to increase investment is above the European Union average and most of the regions analyzed. Even in a more cautious cycle, Spain continues to be seen as an attractive destination for investment,” noted Mischa Groh, Managing Director of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain (AHK Spanien).
Following the presentation, a panel discussion was held, moderated by Rubén Esteller, Deputy Director of El Economista, with participation from Jorge Masalles, CEO of Commerzbank AG in Spain; Neus Mas, CEO of Unex Group; and Manuel Zafra Rubio, CEO of Merck Healthcare in Spain.
Their interventions provided a complementary view on the dynamism of the Spanish economy, the competitive challenges in Europe, and the importance of aligning talent, innovation, and industry to strengthen Spain’s positioning as a strategic destination.
Additionally, Merck Group stated that it continues to see Spain as a strategic country and has recently invested five million euros in the expansion and modernization of its biotechnology plant in Tres Cantos.