ITALIAN PLASTICS AND RUBBER MACHINERY
Exports and production in 2012 will come close to record set in 2007 / Non-EU Europe sees highest gains, led by Russia
Italian trade association Assocomaplast (Milan; www.assocomaplast.org), which represents around 165 plastics and rubber processing machinery manufacturers, has forecast exports worth more than EUR 2.6 bn in 2012, out of a total production of EUR 4.2 bn, on the basis of data from the Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT; www.istat.it) for the first nine months of the year. The rise will bring the year’s results close to the record set in 2007, until now the best annual performance in the sector.
The Assocomaplast report highlights stability in sales abroad, which have increased their significance as the mainstay of the sector. Imports recorded a modest rise of 2%, while exports increased by around 9%, providing an encouraging sign for companies in the industry. The balance of trade for the sector in the first nine months of 2012 exceeded EUR 1.41 bn, a year-on-year increase of 11%.
Europe was the primary destination for exports, accounting for 60% of the total and up 11% compared with the first three quarters of 2011. These gains were supported primarily by increased sales to European markets outside the EU. Russia recorded a year-on-year increase of 26%, with the value of exports almost reaching EUR 100m. Assocomaplast and Italian manufacturers have increased their focus on Russia in light of the upcoming “Interplastica” fair, held in Moscow from 29 January to 1 February 2013, where over 50 Italian exhibitors will be represented in a collective exhibition space of approximately 1,100m2.
North America is the next largest export market, with a share of 18% – up 14% year-on-year. A strong rise in orders from the US and Mexico played a major role in this performance, but in South America there was a fall of 12% in exports.
Exports to Brazilian converters fell by 12% compared with the first nine months of 2011. Sales to the Far East rose by an average of 3%. China, which accounts for half of Italian machines exported to the region, gained an extra 4% in value while sales to India fell back. Supplies have also increased to Thailand and Indonesia. The Middle East showed a decrease of 18%, with exports to Iran falling by half.
Sales of Italian machines to Morocco and Egypt are declining, while in Tunisia there was an increase. Exports to the remainder of Africa were more modest, with the exception of South Africa, which bought machines worth over EUR 18m, about 30% more than in the first three quarters of 2011.
The Assocomaplast report highlights stability in sales abroad, which have increased their significance as the mainstay of the sector. Imports recorded a modest rise of 2%, while exports increased by around 9%, providing an encouraging sign for companies in the industry. The balance of trade for the sector in the first nine months of 2012 exceeded EUR 1.41 bn, a year-on-year increase of 11%.
Europe was the primary destination for exports, accounting for 60% of the total and up 11% compared with the first three quarters of 2011. These gains were supported primarily by increased sales to European markets outside the EU. Russia recorded a year-on-year increase of 26%, with the value of exports almost reaching EUR 100m. Assocomaplast and Italian manufacturers have increased their focus on Russia in light of the upcoming “Interplastica” fair, held in Moscow from 29 January to 1 February 2013, where over 50 Italian exhibitors will be represented in a collective exhibition space of approximately 1,100m2.
North America is the next largest export market, with a share of 18% – up 14% year-on-year. A strong rise in orders from the US and Mexico played a major role in this performance, but in South America there was a fall of 12% in exports.
Exports to Brazilian converters fell by 12% compared with the first nine months of 2011. Sales to the Far East rose by an average of 3%. China, which accounts for half of Italian machines exported to the region, gained an extra 4% in value while sales to India fell back. Supplies have also increased to Thailand and Indonesia. The Middle East showed a decrease of 18%, with exports to Iran falling by half.
Sales of Italian machines to Morocco and Egypt are declining, while in Tunisia there was an increase. Exports to the remainder of Africa were more modest, with the exception of South Africa, which bought machines worth over EUR 18m, about 30% more than in the first three quarters of 2011.
21.12.2012 Plasteurope.com [224191-0]
Published on 21.12.2012
German version of this article...