Italian construction machine firms see resurgence

The Italian construction machinery builders association, UNACEA, reports a resurgence in demand for equipment during 2017. According to UNACEA’s latest report, the first six months of 2017 have seen 5,109 machines sold in the Italian market, an increase of 6% compared to last year. Looking more closely, sales of earthmoving machines grew 6% with 4,910 machines sold, while sales of road equipment increased by 9% with 199 machines sold.

"The Italian market continue to grow, albeit at a moderate pace,” commented Paolo Venturi, president of Unacea. He added that the recovery of the building market provides a sign of an increasing confidence in the construction industry. However he cautioned that political and economic instability remains a perceived concern, both from companies and foreign investors.

According to the foreign market monitor of the 323 Samoter Outlook, the international demand for Italian earth moving machines and attachments grows; export of this sub-sector, between January and July 2017, reached €359 million, up 9% from the previous year. Exports of crushing and screening equipment grew 28%, while exports of road machineries grew 8%. Exports of tower cranes remains stable, but the trend is negative for drilling machines with a drop of 31% and also for concrete equipment with a drop of 4.6%. In addition construction machine imports grew 14.5% and this market was worth €230 million in the first seven months of the year.

Looking at regional trends, there has been a recovery of the Russian market, whose trade exchange with Italy had undergone an abrupt slowdown, due to the deterioration of the international relations with the 3287 EU. From January to July, the share of construction equipment export to Russia reached €18 million, up 47%. Same positive trend for India, which tripled its share and grew 166%. Positive too were intra EU exports, up 12%, as well as exports to Asia, Latin America and Oceania. However, exports to the USA, the Middle East and North Africa declined.