UCIMU announced that the 2018 results of the Italian machine tool, robot and automation manufacturing industry are, by far, the best ever achieved: double-digit increases were registered with regard to almost all main economic indicators, thus extending the largely positive trend started in 2014.
Ranking fourth among manufacturing countries, the Italian industry of the sector confirmed its third place among exporting countries, also strengthening its fifth place in the consumption ranking, as a testimony to the dynamism of domestic demand that took advantage of the incentive provisions for competitiveness (Industry 4.0/Enterprise 4.0).
On the other hand, the forecasts for 2019 show a setback, for the first time after 5 years, mainly due to a situation of uncertainty and instability, both in the domestic and in the foreign markets.
Massimo Carboniero, President of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, stated, “The 2018 results of the Italian industry of the sector are, by far, the best ever achieved, with double-digit increases for almost all main economic indicators: on the other hand, the forecasts for 2019 show a substantially stationary situation. “We ask the Government authorities to abandon the “logic of intermittency” and immediately make available a structural Package of Provisions concerning 4.0, so that the SMESs can plan their medium/long-term investments”.
THE FINAL RESULTS OF 2018
According to the final data processed by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture of UCIMU, in 2018, the output of machine tools, robots and automation systems reached 6,775 million euro, reporting an 11.3% upturn versus 2017. The outcome was due both to the positive trend of manufacturers’ deliveries in the domestic market, up by 15.2% to 3,112 million euro, and to exports, which attained 3,663 million euro, growing by over eight percentage points compared with the previous year.
In 2018, the main markets of destination for the Italian product offering of the sector were Germany (394 million euro +15.1%), the United States (354 million euro, +11.5%), China (341 million euro, -0.4%), Poland (229 million euro +41.7%), France (227 million euro, +6.7%), Spain (144 million euro, +7.9%), Russia (100 million euro, +11.9%) and Turkey (90 million euro, +2.6%). The result of consumption was very positive: for the fourth consecutive year, it recorded a double-digit growth, totalling 5,164 million euro, i.e. 15.7% more versus 2017.
THE FORECASTS FOR 2019
The trend of the Italian industry of the sector will remain more or less stationary in 2019, as highlighted by the forecast data processed by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture of UCIMU. In particular, production should slow down its growth, increasing by 3.6% to 7,020 million euro; exports should reach the value of 3,900 million euro, i.e. 6.5% more compared with 2018.
The export/output ratio is expected to grow to 55.6%. Even consumption should be slower and attain 5,220 million euro (+1.1%), thus remaining on the same level as in 2018; the same trend will be experienced with regard to the manufacturers’ deliveries in the domestic market (3,120 million euro, +0.3%) and imports (2,100 million euro, +2.3%).
“After all, considering the context and the quick evolution of the international political and economic scenario – we could already be satisfied, if these forecasts were really confirmed at the year’s end, as the situation is quite complicated, much more complicated than some months ago”, said Carboniero.
