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Published on: Tuesday, Tue, 17 Jul 2018 ● 3 Min Read
Cinisello Balsamo, January 2017. The year 2017 was extremely positive for the Italian industry of machine tools, robotics and automation, registering double-digit increases for all main economic indicators, except for that of exports that however started growing again after the downturn in 2016.
The year 2018 will be just as positive, confirming the excellent situation that the sector has been experiencing. This is in short what was illustrated by Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, during the usual year-end press conference. UCIMU is the Italian machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancillary products (NC, tools, components, accessories) manufacturers' association.
As shown by the preliminary year's data, processed by the Studies Dept. of UCIMU, in 2017, production went up to 6,110 million euro, reporting a 10.1% increase compared with the previous year. It is the fourth consecutive year of growth and, in absolute values, it is the new record for the Italian industry of the sector.
The outcome was due both to the excellent performance of the Italian manufacturers' deliveries in the domestic market, grown by 16.1% to 2,670 million euro, and to the positive trend of exports increased by 5.8%, to 3,440 million euro.
Thanks to these increases, Italy strengthened its role in the international scenario, where today it is recognised not only for the competence expressed by the enterprises of the sector, measured on the basis of the production and export data, but also for the liveliness of demand, showing growth rates that may be compared to those of developing countries.
In particular, in 2017, machine tool, robot and automation consumption in Italy recorded a 13.8% upturn, totalling 4,390 million euro, thus exceeding the value of the Italian pre-crisis market, when it had reached its historic peak (4,345 million euro, 2007 figure).
The positive trend will continue for the whole year 2018. There will be increases with regard to production and exports, respectively expected to reach almost 6,500 million euro (+6.2%), and 3,600 million, i.e. 4.7% more than the previous year. Moreover, consumption will also grow, likely to attain 4,750 million euro (+8.2%): it will drive both the deliveries of Italian manufacturers in the domestic market that should achieve 2,890 million euro (+8.2%), and imports, which should go up to 1,860 million (+8.1%). The import/consumption ratio should remain stable at 39%.
Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, commented: “We are really pleased with the year 2017: indeed, it closed with excellent results, collected both in Italy and abroad. In addition, considering the sales on the whole, i.e. not only with regard to machine manufacturing, but also by adding the production of parts, tools, numerical controls, which are not included in the total of Italian machine tools, we can say that the turnover exceeded 8 billion euro”.
