Skip to main content

Low Italian machine sales

The number of construction machines sold on the Italian market decreased by 36% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, according to Unacea, the association for Italian construction equipment attachment manufacturers. In Q1 2013, Unacea says 1,157 machines were sold domestically, of which 1,106 were earthmoving machines, 23 were road machines, and 28 were concrete machine/equipment sales. Moreover, according to the foreign trade monitor of the Construction Equipment Outlook publish
May 22, 2013 Read time: 3 mins
Italian equipment manufacturers are relying heavily on exports at present
The number of construction machines sold on the Italian market decreased by 36% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period of 2012, according to 2539 Unacea, the association for Italian construction equipment attachment manufacturers.

In Q1 2013, Unacea says 1,157 machines were sold domestically, of which 1,106 were earthmoving machines, 23 were road machines, and 28 were concrete machine/equipment sales.

Moreover, according to the foreign trade monitor of the Construction Equipment Outlook published by Unacea and Prometeia, Italian exports of construction machines reached €131 million in January 2013, a decrease of 1.8% compared to the previous year. After the increase by 3% over the whole of 2012, Unacea claims the January decrease appears to be connected to the parallel decrease in intra-3287 EU trade (-19%), and trade with Eastern Europe and Turkey (-28%), where the largest part of exports is directed.

By contrast, there has been a 51% increase of Italian manufactured construction equipment trade on African markets, and an 18% increase in Asian market sales. An increase has also been registered in exports of crushing and screening equipment ( 6%), tower cranes ( 46%), concrete equipment ( 17%) and drilling machines ( 18%), as opposed to a decrease in exports of earthmoving machines (-16%) and road machines (-20%). Trade balance of the whole section is said to remain a positive €107 million, an increase by 7% compared to January 2012 – this positive result is due to the persisting internal market stagnation, whose imports  (23.816 million euros) have decreased by 29% compared to last year.

“In Italy, the construction machines sector keeps on being extremely affected by the lack of growth-focused policies,” said Enrico Prandini, vice president of Unacea. “The economic crisis and the lack of adequate controls determine a paradoxical situation where, despite huge investments required by European legislation, non-compliant machines are still employed in construction sites, thus distorting competition and being a possible risk to safety and the environment.”

Prandini said that Unacea is demanding that the newly-installed Italian government introduce award systems in tenders in order to favour companies using latest generation, safer, efficient and environmentally-friendly machines. “We also demand that non-compliant machines are no longer placed on the market and that adequate surveillance arrangements are made, starting from the institution of a construction equipment register.” added Prandini.

Davide Cipolla, 2203 CIFA managing director and Unacea councillor for the concrete equipment sector, added: “The Italian market of concrete equipment follows the general decrease of the whole division in terms of causes and range. The number of machines in use is obsolescing, and this may have negative consequences on end-user undertaking efficiency, as well as on environment and safety. In this respect, we report that around 85% of industrial production of concrete in Italy is still carried out through the dry system, i.e. with plants lacking mixer, despite premixing processes have been scientifically proven to ensure high quality and reliability of the product.”

Cipolla said that Unacea is asking for the introduction of measures aimed to spread the culture of premixing as a tool to increase concrete quality and performance, in favour of building safety and quality.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Wacker Neuson reports record revenue
    May 11, 2017
    Wacker Neuson is reporting a record revenue for its first quarter in 2017. The Munich-based international light and compact equipment manufacturer said that adjusted profit before interest and tax (EBIT) increased significantly. At the close of the first quarter, order intake and backlog showed a clear rise over the figures posted for the prior-year period. "The year has got off to a very promising start for our Group. The investment mood among many national and international customers in most of our target
  • Volvo CE president says 2012 was “reasonable year” despite lack of sales growth
    February 7, 2013
    Sharply reduced global demand for construction equipment in the final three months of last year led to Volvo Construction Equipment’s (CE) full 2012 year sales growing by less than 1%, compared to sales in 2011. Volvo CE sales reached US$10.037 billion (SEK 63,558mn) in 2012, compared to $10.028 billion (SEK 63,500mn) the previous year. Operating income was down to $911.7mn (SEK 5,773mn), from $1.075 billion (SEK 6,812mn) in 2011, operating margin was 9.1% in 2012, down from 10.7% 12 months earlier, and the
  • CEA report shows high level of UK imports & exports of construction & earthmoving equipment in Q1
    June 17, 2022
    A new CEA report shows a high level of UK imports & exports of construction & earthmoving equipment in Q1.
  • Italy's equipment manufacturers face tough market
    May 4, 2012
    Italy's construction equipment manufacturer's association says that 2010 was a tough year for its members. During 2010 equipment sales in Italy dropped 5.3% from 2009, itself a bad year. This data comes from a survey by research specialist Cribis D&B, which investiaged the sector for Unacea.