There was an increase in Italian imports and exports of plastics and rubber processing machinery in the first three quarters of 2014 compared with the same period a year earlier, says industry association Assocomaplast (Milan / Italy; www.assocomaplast.org). In its analysis of figures from Italy’s National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT, Rome; www.istat.it), Assocomaplast, which represents 170 plastic and rubber equipment manufacturers, said exports rose by over 4%, while purchases from abroad grew by over 7%.

The association said that although there was a positive trend in exports, this had lost some of its momentum in recent months. Despite the sustained increase in imports, businesses in the sector do not appear to feel confidence in the recovery of the domestic market, it added. As a consequence, Assocomaplast says that it envisages a year-end balance substantially in line with that of 2013.

There was an increase of 4.5% in exports of Italian machinery to Europe – the principal destination of foreign sales for Italian manufacturers – up to a total of EUR 1.13 bn, of which 80% was accounted for by EU markets. In European countries outside the EU, developments in Russia had a strong impact, resulting in a fall in orders of around 20%.

Exports to the Americas showed an equally positive trend, primarily attributable to the trend in sales to the US and Mexico, which increased by around 20%. Sales to Central and South America stalled, with a decrease of 22% in sales to Brazil.

The most sustained progress was seen in exports to Asian markets, which rose by 7.4%. China leads the region, with Indonesia performing well, while sales to Japan were reduced by almost 50%. Exports of plastics and rubber processing machinery to Africa and Oceania also fell.