Imports of machinery to Italy in the first half of 2016 indicated a strengthening in the Italian plastics market, according to an analysis of data by trade group Assocomaplast.
Official ISTAT foreign trade data showed imports were nearly 390 million euros ($437 million) in the first half year, said Assocomaplast, which covers plastics and rubber processing machinery, equipment and molds. This was a 9.7 percent increase from the first half of 2015, generated from steady growth in April-June after a negative first quarter.
“This would seem to reaffirm the signs of recovery in the domestic market that had shown up on the radar last year,” said Assocomaplast.The trade group will be at Hall 16/A56 at K 2016.
Italian machinery makers have been supported by export markets in recent years, while the domestic market had remained weak. But Assocomaplast said the trend in exports this year has been “much less impressive.” Following months of foreign sales dropping by 0.5 percent to 1 percent year-on-year, a low point was reached in June when exports were 2.3 percent lower than in June 2015.
With imports rising and exports falling, there was “a weakening in the positive trade balance, which did not reach 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion),” said Assocomaplast.
The group believes slowing sales in world markets may be due to the approach of the K 2016 fair in October.
“In effect,” said Assocomaplast President, Alessandro Grassi, “for years various Italian and German manufacturers have been recording a slowdown in orders in the months leading up to K, the principal world event for the sector. Interested buyers probably prefer to get an idea of the new technologies exhibited at the fair before planning and committing to their investments.”
But there are bright spots in regional markets for Italy's machinery exporters.
Grassi said: “Regarding the key geographical macro-areas for sales abroad — which are again the strong point for the sector — particular increases are seen in sales to the NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement] countries. This confirms the influence now assumed by this group on the balance of Italian foreign trade for the sector. Specifically, there is a strong increase in exports to Mexico, thanks to the combined effect of the favorable dynamics of the Mexican economy and the driving force of American businesses with operations in Mexico.”
Export sales of injection molding machines to Mexico increased by 10.2 percent in the first half of 2016, with “a somewhat smaller one in the United States”, said Assocomaplast.
Sales of flexographic printers to all export destinations were up by 19.4 percent in the recent half-year, with major orders from the United States and increases to other countries too.
Extrusion machine exports rose by 1.9 percent and showed “a clear increase in sales” to Mexico and to France, the group said.
In Asia, Italian machinery exports improved in the first half to China, India, South Korea and Vietnam. Sales in Iran also increased following the end of economic sanctions.
In terms of imports to Italy, the data showed the biggest increase in molds, mainly from Germany. An increase was also seen in injection molding machines, particularly from Austrian and German manufacturers.
While European countries supplying technology to the Italian plastics market recorded double-digit increases, China's increase was limited to 2 percent, noted Assocomaplast.
