Brexit-consequences: uncertainty for German exporters

Long waiting times, bottlenecks, bureaucracy: Some sectors in Germany would be a tough Brexit particularly hard. Many of the affected companies still do not know exactly what to expect.

Wolfgang Landmesser, WDR

The customer of Otto Fuchs KG on the island have sounding names: Airbus, Jaguar, Rolls Royce, BMW, Mini. The UK is an important market for the manufacturer of aluminium components from the Sauerland Meinerzhagen.

head of the company Hinrich Mählmann is rarely at a loss for a response. But the question of the consequences of No-Deal-Brexit, he only replies: "you see me helpless".

for the "Just in time"

Just-in-time the company delivers its arm systems or wheels of its British customers - that is, shortly before the installation in the factory. The camp is kind of a Truck, with which the supply parts are to be transported. And that is exactly the Problem: If, after a Brexit on the border suddenly Were to be controlled, delayed deliveries, and production in the car factories come to a Halt.

So BMW, one of the largest customers of Otto Fuchs has announced already, the production in the Brexit case for the first time to shut down. "For us, this means quite clearly that decline in sales," says Mählmann. This is because the products for the British car production are custom-made - otherwise they can't sell.

Many of the engineering companies fear the cost of a hard Brexit higher export and supply shortages for components.

Higher costs and more red tape through customs

as in the car industry, the consequences for the German machine Builder, will not be dramatic, because here "just in time" is so important. But the industry, which is dominated to 90 percent of small and medium-sized companies, needs to change in terms of the UK business. Many of the companies have not delivered your Goods yet never in so-called third countries, i.e. outside the EU.

With the Brexit lot of red tape suddenly comes to you. Unlike in the EU single market, you need to declare your Goods at customs and to consider how to keep the technicalities as low as possible - by asking, for example, a simplified customs procedure. After all, the UK is the sector's fifth most important export market.

production in Germany will be in danger

But also in the reverse direction, the production is at risk, for example, when a German machine manufacturer is related precursors from the UK - for example, the control system for a machine, and the manufacturer due to the Brexit a long time can deliver. Here, manufacturers could look prophylactically to suppliers from other EU countries, says Holger Kunze from the Association of German machine and plant builders (VDMA).

"Since there can be nasty Surprises", according to the head of the Brussels VDMA offices - if, for example, in Parts of France or Holland components, which originate from the UK. Smaller firms were too much for the track at each of the supplier part.