Italy’s plastics and rubber technology industry generated a turnover totaling EUR 4.67 bn last year, a 5% year-on-year markup versus 2021, and exceeded the EUR 4.5 bn forecast made in December, according to industry association Amaplast (Milan; www.amaplast.org).

The main driver of growth is exports, which showed a particularly positive trend towards the end of the year. It had reached EUR 3.25 bn for the whole of 2022, up 8.7%. The domestic market was 0.8% or nearly flat at EUR 2.54 bn.

Total production expanded 4.9% to EUR 4.67 bn, of which 70% were exported. Sales to the Americas improved 12%, with those to South America and Mexico registering the biggest jump; US deliveries have slowed somewhat, declining 3%.

In Asia, where sales climbed 9%, India, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates were the driving forces. Exports to China fell 7% while deliveries to the EU advanced 8%.

Among the top 10 destinations, Germany stood out with EUR 422.65 mn. It accounted for 13% of Italy’s total exported value and represented a 14.6% gain versus 2021. The US was second but sales worth EUR 346.62 mn meant a 3.2% drop.

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Machines for primary processing were the most saleable categories, with robust growth in extruders (up 23%), and mono-multifilament systems (up 58%). The latter product registered a steep acceleration of sales from EUR 74 mn in 2020 to EUR 140 mn last year after the previous decade averaged EUR 30-50 mn.

The injection moulding machines had a relatively flat trend. Blow moulding systems and thermoforming machines shrank 19% and 22%, respectively. Amaplast said although the outlook is uncertain for 2023, orders and turnover are forecast to increase 7% and 6%, respectively, compared with 2022.

After a five-year hiatus, the plastics and rubber industry fair Plast organised by Promaplast (Milan; www.amaplast.org/it/) will take place on 5-8 September 2023.