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News Release from: UCIMU
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 December 2005
Machine tools stagnate in Italian home
market
UCIMU presented the provisional final balance data of 2005 that shows an increase in the production of machine tools, robots and automation (+4.7%) and positive results for export (+14.6%).
Alberto Tacchella, president of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre: "The figure concerning production is surely a positive sign, but, once again, it is determined only by the positive trend of exports In fact, the domestic demand for investment goods is still stagnant." During the end-of-year press conference, the figures of the provisional final balance of 2005 have been presented, as elaborated by the Studies Dept
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre, the Association of Italian machine tools, robots and automation manufacturers.
The results of the provisional final balance of 2005 show a growth in production at EUR 4,325 million (+4.7%) compared with the value registered in the previous year, thanks to the positive performance of exports that registered a 14.6% increase, totalling EUR 2,380 million.
Italian manufacturers' propensity to export has gained five more percentage points, reaching 55%.
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The positive balance of trade has been confirmed, with a 16.9% increase, amounting to EUR 1,220 million.
The foreign trade data concerning exports of machine tools only, in the first eight months of the year, are showing a 17.6% increase in the sales to foreign markets versus the same period of the previous year.
This result has been determined by the positive results attained by the Italian sector industry in the traditional outlet areas, as well as in the emerging markets.
In the first eight months of 2005, the sales destined to EU markets recorded a 7.1% growth.
Even better the results of deliveries to extra-EU countries, gaining 33.3% compared with the same period of the previous year.
A rise was registered in the exports to Germany (+20.3%) and France (+17.2%), while there was a downturn in the deliveries of machine tools destined to Spain (-3.7%).
Particularly positive results were achieved by the Italian exports to Turkey (+77%), Russia (+5%), Mexico (+189.6%), Brazil (+104%) and India (+161.3%).
Considering the sales of machine tools to these five countries (ranking in the first twelve positions among the outlet areas of the sector industry), it is to be observed that they account for 15.5% of the total exported by the Italian manufacturers.
Sales registered a recovery in North America (+20.1%), as well as in Central-Southern America (+112.4%), as a result of the positive performances attained by the Italian manufacturers in the United States (+20.6%), in Canada (+17.2%), in Mexico (+189.6%), in Brazil (+104%) and in Argentina (+22.5%).
On the domestic market, once again, the stagnation of consumption, which amounted to Euro 3,105 million (+0.6%), has affected the deliveries by the Italian manufacturers, decreased to Euro 1,945 million (-5.3%).
Nevertheless, the 'Made in Italy' of the sector is still covering an important share, equal to 62.6%, of the national consumption of production systems.
A growth is observed in the imports, totalling EUR 1,160 million.
The positive trend, registered starting from 2004, should be confirmed in 2006 too.
In fact, according to the forecasts, the sector production will have a further 2.4% increase, reaching EUR 4,430 million.
Such result will be determined by the positive trend of exports that are expected to rise by 8.6% and to reach EUR 2,585 million.
The negative trend of deliveries by the Italian manufacturers in the domestic market will go on, decreasing to EUR 1,845 million (-5.1%).
Imports will increase to EUR 1,265 million (+9.1%).
The propensity to export will grow to 58.4%.
Tacchella commented: "The figure concerning production is surely a positive sign, but, once again, it is determined only by the positive trend of exports.
In fact, the domestic demand for investment goods is still stagnant.
All this" - went on Tacchella - "Attests the appreciation gained by the sector 'Made in Italy' all over the world and, at the same time, it stresses the great difficulty that the domestic market is still experiencing.
Owing to this," - stated the president of UCIMU-Sistemi per Produrre - "We hope that the Government authorities will manage to develop concrete and, most of all, immediate interventions, with the objective of encouraging the re-launching of investments in the domestic market and of supporting the development and the penetration of the 'Made in Italy' of the sector into the foreign markets.
In this perspective," - affirmed Tacchella - " I think it necessary to grant fiscal neutrality to the aggregation processes among enterprises having common targets.
This should be a useful strategy to overcome the size limit that nowadays is still characterising our enterprises and making the direct presence within near and far-off, traditional and emerging markets even more difficult.
The president continued: "The high propensity to export, a peculiarity of the Italian manufacturing industry of production systems, must also be rewarded and supported with special measures.
In this connection, it would be necessary to consider the abatement of IRAP tax on the personnel for a percentage rate equal to the export-production ratio attained by the company.
On the domestic front, we are extremely pleased with the proposal of the Ministry for Production Activities.
In the Programme Agreement, included in the triennial plan (2006-2008) that has recently been presented, special interventions are planned which should foster the increase of technology demand in several sectors which are considered strategic for the economic system of the country, as they are able to maintain at the top the Made in Italy competitiveness in the world." Tacchella concluded: "With a particular reference to the sector of inconsumable goods, we would like to stress the importance and the necessity of liberalising depreciation allowances." This is a measure that would be of great use not only to the whole sector, but also to the entire Italian industry".
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