Skip to main content

Italian machine sales solidifying

Sales of construction machines have been improving in Italy. Data from the Italian equipment manufacturing association, UNACEA, shows how the market picked up during the first six months of 2016. The report reveals how sales in the Italian market rose 22% compared to the same period of 2015. The UNACEA quarterly study shows that 4,723 construction machines were sold during the first six months of 2016, including 4,617 earthmoving machines and 106 road machines. Compared with the same period for 2015, this e
July 26, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Sales of construction machines have been improving in Italy. Data from the Italian equipment manufacturing association, 2539 UNACEA, shows how the market picked up during the first six months of 2016. The report reveals how sales in the Italian market rose 22% compared to the same period of 2015. The UNACEA quarterly study shows that 4,723 construction machines were sold during the first six months of 2016, including 4,617 earthmoving machines and 106 road machines. Compared with the same period for 2015, this equated to a gain in sales of earthmoving machines of 24% but a drop of 33% for road construction machinery.

“The positive trend of recovery in the Italian market has been consolidated - said Paolo Venturi, president of Unacea - which has started by now three years ago. However, in absolute value, it is a much more modest recovery. Effectively, comparing this result with the data of the Golden Year 2007, when in the first six months were sold more than 13,000 machines, the loss is more than 63%. Despite the recovery, the market is still lower than the pre-crisis level so prudence and measures of support are mandatory, also considering the deterioration of the international trade and of the growing global tensions.”

According to the Samoter Outlook report produced by Prometeia in collaboration with Unacea on the data of the Italian institute for Statistics, exports of construction equipment between January and March have only increased slightly (+1.2%), reaching just over €810 million. Exports of drilling equipment grew 50%, while exports of tower cranes grew 13%. But demand for other product lines fell, with a 21% drop for crushing and screening equipment, a 10% fall for road machinery, a drop of 8% for concrete equipment and 3% for earth-moving machines.

Imports grew by 13.8%, reaching a value of €210 million. Particularly positive were imports of road equipment which grew 46%, while sales of drilling machines increased 38%, concrete equipment climbed 37% and earth-moving machines rose by 18%. Imports of crushing and screening equipment stayed more or less stable by increasing by 1%, while imports of tower cranes dropped 38%. The trade balance records a surplus of €600 million, although this is 2% drop compared to 2015.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Key Italian agreement highlights resurgence in construction machinery segment
    July 16, 2015
    An agreement has been struck between the Veronafiere-SaMoTer exhibition and Italian construction equipment manufacturing association Unacea. This deal is intended to further boost the Italian construction machinery industry. Exports are performing well (70% of production), although the domestic market has to be kick-started after falling by 80% because of the economic crisis.
  • US sees decline in construction machine exports
    December 4, 2015
    Exports of US construction equipment are still in decline according to the latest Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) market update. The AEM report shows that exports of US-made construction equipment dropped 17.6% for the first three quarters of 2015 compared to January-September 2014, for a total $10.8 billion shipped worldwide.
  • German firms see improving market share
    March 1, 2017
    In 2016, German manufacturers of construction equipment achieved a turnover of €9.3 billion, an increase of 3% compared to 2015. Of note though is that the same period, global sales of construction equipment declined by 1%. German companies managed to perform better than the world market and develop market share. In 2017, they expect another increase in sales by 3%.
  • VDMA bullish
    March 5, 2012
    A positive outlook of business has been revealed by the German equipment manufacturers association, the VDMA.