MACHINES From January to September 2012, Italian printing and converting machinery manufacturers exports showed double digit growth. The largest increments in Europe extra EU and Asia.
The uptrend in exports of Italian machine builders is growing and consistently so: according to data compiled by the Acimga Study Office, in the first nine months of 2012 figures were up by 12.4% compared to the same period the year previous. Sales of Italian companies show growth in almost all geographic areas, with largest increases in Europe outside the EU (32%) and Asia (23%), areas which absorbed the largest amount of Italian exports (almost 14% and 20% respectively).
But, albeit at a lesser rate, sales to North America and the EU are also growing at a respective +6 and +2%; the EU continues to be the main area of destination of Italian output (36%). Only Central and South America show a slight drop, an area that accounts for less than 10% of Italian trade in the sector.
Considering the individual countries, the US is still the largest market all told in terms of absorption of Italian production, with a share close on 13% and an uptrend during the period considered standing at 12%. Followed by Germany, even though figures show a slight drop, and China (61%) that is back in third place in this ranking.
Confirmation from Russia
In the first nine months of 2012, Italian exports to the Russian market grew by 49%; in particular increases were registered in the sales of printing and paper converting machines, especially flexo.
This confirms the positive trend already underway since 2011, which establishes Italian industry as the second largest supplier in the country, after Germany, with a market share of 11% of Russian imports in the sector. A Confirmation also reflected in the good performance of Upakovka-Upak Italia (Moscow, 29th January-1st February 2013): Centrexpo announces the sizeable participation of Italian exhibitors for the second year running, with over 80 companies over an exhibition surface of around 1600 sqm, they exceed their German competitors.
A particularly lively presence of printing and converting technologies is indicated at the Moscow fair.
Focus on China
With a growth of 61% in the first nine months of 2012, China is back to being the third export market for Italian printing and converting machinery, with an overall market share of 7% of the entire flow of Italian exports. In terms of product type, the best performance concerns converting and print machinery. The upcoming China Print 2013, where Acimga will coordinate the Italian company "collective", will offer fresh indications as to the potential of the Far Eastern markets.
