September 23, 2024 15:45

Amaplast, the association of Italian makers of machinery for plastics and rubber processing, reports a decline in import-export activities in the first part of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

In terms of imports, which serve as an indicator of internal market sales, there has been a progressive deterioration. Overall, from January to June, imports reached €483 million, marking a 12% decrease compared to  the first half of the last year, with significant drops from the three main sourcing countries: Germany, China, and Austria.
This trend, according to Amaplast, reflects a reduced propensity for investment, set against a backdrop of a contracting general economy and industrial production.

Exports, on the other hand, remain positive, posting a 2.5% increase to €1.73 billion in the first half of the year. However, the pace of growth is slowing due to reduced demand for many types of machinery and molds. The challenges in the German manufacturing sector and sales to the United States, Italy’s key trading partners, are weighing on overall performance. Germany's troubles are confirmed by the VDMA, which reports a 20-point drop in order intake and a 9-point decrease in revenue, with the domestic market faring worse than exports.

Among the top 10 destinations for Italian sector production, performance is uneven. Supplies to other EU markets, namely Spain, Poland, and France, show respective declines of 13%, 32%, and near stability. Exports to non-EU countries, however, display double-digit growth: up 26% in Mexico, 36% in China, 50% in Turkey, 22% in India, and 24% in the UK.

Italian manufacturers of rubber and plastic machinery are concerned about the sector’s outlook, and their expectations for the coming months are cautious, considering macroeconomic indicators, market turbulence, and uncertainties affecting the industrial sector as a whole, particularly with respect to the energy transition path.

Order intake in Italy remains generally negative, although there are substantial differences across different technologies. After a tough first quarter, the following three months have shown weak signs of recovery.

In this complex scenario, Amaplast forecasts a year-end revenue contraction compared to 2023, which, however, closed with record figures: revenue increased by 2.8% to €4.8 billion, with exports up 10.8% to €3.59 billion.

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