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Brzeski noted that the underlying trend of industrial orders in recent months has been "slightly positive" despite falling demand from other countries that use the euro. He said that, while fairly well-filled order books should ensure a gradual pick-up in production in the longer term, "the medium-term outlook is not yet looking rosy." On Thursday the VDMA group, which represents Germany's machinery producers, said it is now forecasting a 1 percent drop in production this year
-- compared with the 2 percent increase it predicted last September. It pointed to a disappointing start to the year, particularly in the German market, but noted that exports to the key Chinese and U.S. markets have started increasing again.
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