Growth of +90% for the printing and converting machinery manufacturers represented by Acimga at the beginning of the year, with a vigorous recovery in exports. The end of the tunnel is near.
The year 2021 for Acimga companies has begun with really important signs of recovery. The orders collected in the first quarter of this year by the manufacturers of machinery for the printing industry represented by the Confindustria association mark a +89.6% compared to the same period of the previous year, for an index value of 269.4 (Base 2015=100).
The result was determined by growth on both foreign markets (+96.4%) and the domestic market (+74.8%), with an overall increase in turnover of 9.2% compared to the same period of the previous year (in current terms), for a value of 604 million euros. A reminder that the sector had closed 2020 with a turnover of 2.36 billion, down 16.7% compared to 2019 – however limited compared to the trend of Italian instrumental mechanics, which according to Federmacchine stood at -27%. Also in 2020, Acimga manufacturers’ exports had fallen to 1.45 billion, with a decrease limited to 14.4%.
“Even instrumental mechanics, as well as the major national and international financial indicators, is on the road to recovery and has the exit to the tunnel in sight,” comments Andrea Briganti, director of Acimga and Federazione Carta e Grafica. “After a 2020 showing a serious slowdown, with some cases of negative peaks, 2021 opens with a thoroughly interesting order trend, fueling double-digit growth. Things do not stop there: the international market is also resuming vigorously, and for our sector – which exports more than 50% of production and therefore was particularly hard hit by the halt last year – this is an extremely positive signal. These trends allow us to foresee, from the production point of view, a return to normality in the short-medium term”.
First quarter 2021: data from the Acimga Study Center
The year 2021 opens with a recovery in the sector: all indicators are positive. Forecasts for the second quarter of the current year also indicate optimism in respondents expectations.
Acquired orders index
The index of orders for machinery for the printing industry collected in the first quarter of 2021 recorded a significant increase (+89.6%) compared to the same period of the previous year, for an index value of 269.4 (Base 2015=100). This result was determined by the growth recorded on both foreign markets (+96.4%) and the domestic market (+74.8%).
Turnover (value)
In the first quarter of 2021, turnover (in value terms) increased by 9.2% compared with the same period of the previous year (in current terms), amounting to EUR 604 million.
Forecast turnover trend
In the first quarter of 2021, the economic forecasts for the second quarter of 2021 indicate growth for the 52.2% (from 25%), followed by stability for the 43.5% and a decrease for the remaining 4.3%.
Forecast of % export share of turnover
In the period January-March 2021, forecasts regarding the percentage share of exports in turnover for the second quarter of 2021 are, for the majority of respondents (59.1%), stable, followed by growth (27.3%) and a decrease (13.6%).
Forecast of orders taken
Optimism prevails for the economic forecast of domestic orders, while stability is confirmed for foreign orders.
For the second quarter of 2021, forecasts for domestic orders indicate growth for 47.6% of respondents (from 15.8%) compared with the first quarter of 2021; stability (42.9% down from 57.9%) and a decrease (9.5% down from 26.3%).
For foreign markets, responses are predominantly of stability for 57.1% of respondents; followed by growth at 33.3% (up from 11.8%) and decrease at 9.6% (down from 29.4%).
