Italy EU
Italy's plastics and rubber machinery market has been thriving in 2015 compared to previous years.
According to fresh foreign trade analysis from Assocomaplast, the Italian trade association and part of CONFINDUSTRIA representing some 160 companies, Italy's plastics and rubber machinery exports grew by nearly 17 per cent year-on-year from January to June compared to the first half of 2014.
These figures serve to further boost optimism for Italy's recovering market. Although market performance cannot yet be described as dazzling, balance is being restored.
Alessandro Grassi, President of Assocomaplast, said: "Such a trend is in fact in line with the results revealed by our latest survey throughout our membership of the current status of business."
Indeed, the survey reflected overall confidence in the Italian plastics and rubber machinery market. In July 50 per cent of respondents posted an increase in orders compared to the previous year, while 44 per cent of respondents said they anticipate further growth in the future and 45 per cent forecast a consolidation of their turnover over the current six-month period.
In terms of imports, injection moulding machines, flexographic printing machines and moulds were recorded in the largest volumes. Many of these bought from machinery manufacturers in Germany, confirming the country continues to dominate as a principal supplier to Italy.
Germany has also historically been the most important destination market for Italian exports in this sector. German processors purchased €200 million (£146.4 million) in 'Made in Italy' systems in the first six months of 2015, a 19 per cent jump from the same timeframe in 2014.
In terms of geographical macro areas for sales overall, there was a notable increase in business from EU countries and the NAFTA group. Among EU countries sales increases were recorded in Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic. The Americas yielded the most impressive data, with a 36 per cent increase in exports to the US along with a 15 per cent jump in trade to Mexico, while exports to Brazil rose by 17 per cent.
There were recorded declines, not least the ongoing slide in trade between Italy and Russia, which plunged by 39 per cent as the Ukraine crisis continues to resonate through Europe. Negative values were also seen for India, where trade dropped by 24 per cent, while Chinese trade showed no real change.