Upbeat outlook from Italian machinery association

ERJ staff report (PRW)

Milan, Italy -- Italian plastics and rubber machinery association Assocomaplast is optimistic for the industry after national statistics showed a slower rate of decline for both imports and exports.

ISTAT national statistics suggest imports fell 4 percent and exports 1.7 percent in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009. In 2009, exports fell by at least 26 percent every month compared to 2008, showing a considerable slow down in the industry's decline, says Assocomaplast.

The association also points out lower declines in exports in each of the months in the first quarter 2010 compared with the same month in 2009, with January down by 6.4 percent, February by 9.6 percent and March by 7 percent.

Flexographic machinery exports, representing 5.5 percent of total exports value, rose by an impressive 35 percent in the first quarter 2010. Injection moulding machinery exports, 3.7 percent of the total, were also up, by 8.3 percent, as were those for blow moulding machinery, 7.1 percent of the total and up by 8.2 percent. Moulds, representing the largest share (33 percent), did less well with exports increasing 1.3 percent.

Assocomaplast has carried out a survey of its member companies and 45 percent of respondents say they expect turnover to increase in the second half 2010 compared with the first half 2010. Some 43 percent expect no change.

Comparing June with May this year, 34 percent of respondents expect an increase in turnover. Another 45 percent say there will be no change.

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Plastics and Rubber Weekly (a Crain publication)