A Federation of ideas and facts

The Italian Paper and Graphics Sector Federation acts as an umbrella organization to three national associations - Assografici (print graphics and paper manufacture - converting), Assocarta (paper) and Acimga (print graphics and paper converting machines) to which Comieco is to be added as an associate member - with the aim of increasing the level of representation and protection of interests of the institutional partners.

Data and facts
In the Annual General Meeting on June 22, President Pietro Lironi referred to the actions carried out by the Federation in support of the competitiveness of enterprises (proactive presence at the print graphics and paper manufacture and converting contract renegotiation tables, proposals for a review of energy policies so as to contain industrial costs imposed on businesses, drawing inspiration from the principles of circular economy) and he described the general framework in which businesses operate along the entire production and supply chain.

According to statistics, in 2015 the Federation represented 9,400 companies with over 170,000 employees; it had a turnover of 23.5 billion euros (1.4% of the Italian GDP) and a positive trade balance of 3.8 billion euros.

Analysing the individual sectors, in view of the sharp fall in turnover and jobs in the print graphics industry from 2007 onwards, 2015 testifies to a good start up of the paper manufacturing and converting industry and a strong growth in the print graphics and converting machine sector.

In terms of demand, between 2007 and 2015, the consumption of cultural products (books and newspapers) dropped by 35%, falling below 1% of the total expenditure of Italian households, while investments in press advertising more that halved (-56%): read rates that give Italy a measly third-last place among EU countries.

Sizeable too in terms of demand, especially in the print sector (and hence print paper), also the collapse of the main press advertising market in Italy, in terms of investments in advertising, that has fallen another 5.7% in 2015 compared to 2014. Indeed advertising in the press between 2007 and 2015 fell by more than half, from 2.8 billion euro to 1.2 billion (-56%). The first three months of 2016 witnessed a recovery in overall advertising (+ 2.3% according to Nielsen) on almost all media and spread over many sectors, but not in the press (-4.4%).

For these reasons the Federation has proposed to the Government two fiscal policy initiatives to stimulate consumption of cultural products and advertising in the press: make book purchases tax deductible and introduce tax exemption of incremental advertising.