Packaging machinery turnover remains stable in 2015

The Italian automatic packaging machinery manufacturers maintained their world leadership position in 2015, reporting very similar results to the previous year.

Based on preliminary figures published by the Research Department of Ucima (Italian packaging machinery manufacturers’ association), the sector is expected to post a turnover of 6.1 billion euros, just 100 million euros (-1.9%) short of the 2014 figure of 6.221 billion euros.

This result was determined by the severe downturn in several important markets including China, Russia and Indonesia, which recorded contractions of 25.5%, 40.7% and 62.9% respectively over the first nine months of the year.

However, the excellent performances in other markets succeeded in almost completely offsetting these declines. Total exports are therefore expected to fall by just 2.7% to 4.912 billion euros.

The European Union remains the largest market for Italian technologies, followed by Asia and North America.

According to the figures for the first nine months of the year, the top three importer countries are the United States, France and China.

The positive trend in the domestic market continued over the course of the year to reach 1.188 billion euros, 1.4% up on 2014. This was largely a result of the tax concessions on the purchase of machinery granted by the so-called "Sabatini Bis" law.

"We hope that the final text of the Stability Law will confirm the 140% amortisation for machinery purchases," commented Ucima’s Chairman Giuseppe Lesce. "This will support the growth of the domestic market in which many of our SMEs operate."

The Association is cautious in its forecasts for 2016.

"Despite a positive trend in orders in the first nine months of 2015 (+4.9%), in view of the difficult economic situation in some important markets we are expecting turnover to remain steady at the levels recorded over the past two years without significant variations."