A good 2014 for plastics and rubber producing machinery

The Assocomaplast economic survey and expectations regarding the upcoming Plast.

During 2014 an increase in exports of about 8 percentage points buoyed Italian machinery manufacturers, while the recovery of the internal market has only been felt (and timidly so) in recent months. This was documented by the end of year balance given by Assocomaplast (the industrial association representing more than 160 plastic and rubber industry machinery, equipment and mold manufacturers), drawn up taking into account the Istat estimate that production is back to touching 4 billion euros; the positive balance of trade is increasing further, and is well above the threshold of 2 billion euros, while the domestic market is just below that value.
The latest Association economic survey also found that about a third of companies surveyed were in general optimistic and expect a further increase in orders and sales in the current semester. A similar percentage believes that their exports should increase.
 
The main areas of destination Exports of Italian machinery are seen to be on the rise in Europe, especially in the EU, against the failure of the non-EU markets, dragged down by the negative result of Russia (-11.9%). The trend for South America was heavily affected by the lacklustre sales performance in Brazil (down approx 11%), while an albeit moderate increase in supplies to Chinese converters (but also Vietnamese, Indonesians and Indians, to name a few) has offset the slowdown in South Korea, Japan and Thailand.
Lastly, the strong performance of exports to the United States (+ 21.5%) has replaced the decline in France (-10.4%), which ranks second in the countries of destination, the first, as always, even though showing a slight decline, being Germany.

The main types of machines Assocomaplast’s survey shows, once again, the good run of blowing and flexo printing machines, which show a respective +11.6 and +11.1%. Export figures for extruders remain unchanged from last year, while injection machines put in a heavy drop (-16%). Good results, lastly in the mold category (especially for injection molding), that accounts for more than 28% of total exports in the sector.
 
Expectations Regarding the current year, expectations for the next Plast (Milano Rho-Pero, 5-9 May 2015) are rising: the number of pre-registrations has more than doubled compared to the same period for the previous edition.