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

  • French Q1 sales of equipment hit record levels
    May 22, 2019
    Sales of construction equipment in France are at the highest levels ever observed in the country, according to CISMA, the French trade association. In the first quarter of 2019 six new records were set. Compared with Q1 2018, the market is up 10%. This performance can be explained by the rise in sales to rental companies of nearly 13%, notes CISMA. The mobile elevating work platform sales reached a peak of 3,545 units in the quarter – highest ever, beating the previously best years of 2000-2001 an
  • STRABAG reports strong financial performance
    November 30, 2015
    Contractor STRABAG is bullish and report strong economic performance for its latest financial results. The firm’s output volume after first nine months of 2015 hit nearly €10.3 billion, an increase of 6% over the same period for 2.14. Meanwhile there was strong growth in earnings with the firm’s EBITDA rising to €403.79 million, and EBIT to €115.81 million. The order backlog was down 11% to €13.8 billion however. For the whole of 2015, the outlook is healthy.
  • Wacker Neuson reports strong performance for second quarter
    August 8, 2017
    Compact machine specialist Wacker Neuson says that its financial results show a strong second quarter for 2017 as well as an improved outlook for 2017 as a whole. The firm says that profitability improved and has now raised its revenue forecast for the current fiscal year. The Wacker Neuson Group reported record revenue of €425.2 million for the second quarter of 2017, compared with €381.4 million for the same period in 2016. At €46.7 million, profit before interest and tax (EBIT) jumped a healthy 41 % comp
  • Kobelco posts financial results
    November 21, 2014
    Kobelco Construction Machinery has posted its semi-annual results for the 2014 financial year. The results give grounds for caution as well as some optimism however. In the Japanese hydraulic excavator market, a significant decline was expected initially in response to the impact of last-minute demand in the previous financial year. However, the decline was less than expected owing to strong domestic demand. As a result, the total domestic demand for heavy hydraulic excavators in the first half decreased by